miR-128-3p and miR-223-3p as Potential Biomarkers of Metabolic Dysfunction in Liver Tissue from Patients Undergoing Metabolic Bariatric Surgery

We quantified the expression levels of four miRNAs (hsa-miR-128-3p, hsa-miR-21-3p, hsa-miR-223-3p, and hsa-let-7a) in liver samples obtained during bariatric metabolic surgery from patients with obesity and healthy controls using qPCR. Expression was normalized to hsa-miR-24-3p, selected as the most stable reference gene in our cohort. Associations between miRNA levels and clinical or demographic variables (sex, AMPs) were also explored. Compared with controls, patients with obesity showed significant dysregulation of hsa-miR-128-3p and hsa-miR-223-3p, independent of histological liver alterations. No consistent changes were observed for hsa-miR-21-3p or hsa-let-7a. Clinical variables, including AMPs, did not account for the observed differences. miR-128-3p and miR-223-3p are linked to obesity-related metabolic dysfunction and emerge as promising biomarkers or therapeutic targets. Dysregulation of hsa-miR-128-3p and hsa-miR-223-3p was observed in liver tissue from patients with obesity who underwent metabolic bariatric surgery compared to healthy controls. Alterations of hsa-miR-128-3p and hsa-miR-223-3p were independent of histological liver changes, suggesting a specific link to obesity-related molecular mechanisms. Hsa-miR-128-3p and hsa-miR-223-3p may serve as potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets for obesity.