MiR-203 is an Anti-Obese Mirna by Targeting ASBT

Obesity is a chronic metabolic disease and commonly characterized by excessive fat deposition within body. Bile acids are important regulators for controlling the absorption and excretion of lipid. Here we show that miR-203 exerts weight-loss and lipid-lowering effects by increasing triglyceride (TG) and total bile acid (TBA) excretion in obese rodents and miR-203 overexpression transgenic mice. ASBT plays important role in regulating bile acid homeostasis, and is a direct target of miR-203. In human intestinal epithelial cells (HIECs), overexpression of miR-203 could decrease the cell uptake of bile acid by inhibiting ASBT. TCF7L2 was downregulated in obese mice and acted as a positive regulatory transcription factor for miR-203. The ASBT mRNA level was positively correlated with body mass index (BMI) of population, while miR-203 level was negatively associated with BMI. Taken together, these data suggest miR-203 could be a new therapeutic bile acid regulator for obesity and dyslipidemia.