Exploring the role of microRNA-155 as a biomarker and regulatory modulator of target genes in metabolic syndrome

Central obesity is one of the defining features of metabolic syndrome (MetS). MetS comprises a cluster of metabolic disturbances including insulin resistance (IR), hypertension, and altered glucose, lipid, and fatty acid metabolism. These alterations are characterized by reduced levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) commonly referred to as "good cholesterol" and increased levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad cholesterol". While HDL protects against cardiovascular disease (CVD), elevated LDL increases disease risk. Collectively, these metabolic abnormalities raise the risk of developing type-2 diabetes (T2D), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), and CVDs. The raising global incidence of MetS is largely attributed to sedentary lifestyles, westernization, and the consumption of energy-dense processed foods, making it a growing public health concern across the globe. In recent years microRNAs (miRNAs), which are small non-coding RNA molecules (18 to 25 nucleotides), have emerged as important regulators of post-transcriptional gene expression in metabolic and inflammatory pathways. Among these, miR-155 have received considerable attention for its role in immune activation, inflammatory signalling, cancer, and energy balance. MiR-155 modulates key genes involved in insulin signalling, glucose metabolism, and metabolic homeostasis, thereby contributing to overall metabolic control. Given these roles, circulating miR-155 has arisen as a promising non-invasive biomarker for metabolic abnormalities and a potential therapeutic target in MetS. This review highlights the multifaceted roles of miR-155 and summarizes accumulating evidence supporting its central involvement in the physiological and pathological mechanisms underlying MetS, with implications for early diagnosis and therapeutic development.