Review Article Regulation of Adipocyte Differentiation via MicroRNAs

Adipocyte differentiation, termed adipogenesis, is a complicated process in which pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells differenti-ate into mature adipocytes. The process of adipocyte differentiation is tightly regulated by a number of transcription factors, hor-mones and signaling pathway molecules. Recent studies have demonstrated that microRNAs, which belong to small noncoding RNA species, are also involved in adipocyte differentiation. In vivo and in vitro studies have revealed that various microRNAs af-fect adipogenesis by targeting several adipogenic transcription factors and key signaling molecules. In this review, we will sum-marize the roles of microRNAs in adipogenesis and their target genes associated with each stage of adipocyte differentiation