DIFFERENT EXPRESSION OF MICRO-RNAs IN VISCERAL AND SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE OF OBESE PATIENTS UNDERGOING BARIATRIC SURGERY

Obesity is a condition in which the accumulation of adipose tissue, particularly at the visceral level, is associated with a complex series of alterations involving multiple organs and systems. In this context, respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic complications represent the most frequent conditions that negatively affect quality of life and, more importantly, patient survival. To date, bariatric surgery remains the only proven treatment capable of inducing significant and sustained weight loss, with documented impact on the reduction of obesity- related comorbidities. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), owing to their ability to modulate gene expression, play a key role in the regulation of numerous pathological processes. Several studies available in the literature, conducted on various biological specimens (such as blood or sputum), have demonstrated the involvement of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. However, based on current knowledge, none of these studies has directly employed adipose tissue as the primary biological matrix. In light of these considerations, it appears particularly relevant to investigate how the excess of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue—characteristic of obese patients—may influence the expression profile of the aforementioned microRNAs.