Adipocyte small extracellular vesicle-derived microRNA-30a-3p exacerbates hepatic steatosis in high fat diet-fed male mice

Quick Facts

  • Publication title: Adipocyte small extracellular vesicle-derived microRNA-30a-3p exacerbates hepatic steatosis in high fat diet-fed male mice
  • Journal: Nat Commun
  • Year: 2026
  • DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-71731-2
  • PMID/PMCID: 41965824; PMC13243456

Research overview

Adipose tissue dysfunction drives hepatic lipid overload in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), yet the involvement of adipose tissue-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) remains unclear. These findings highlight the critical role of adipose sEV microRNAs in driving hepatocyte lipotoxicity, and suggest miR-30a-3p inhibition as a promising MASLD therapy.

Key findings

Adipose tissue dysfunction drives hepatic lipid overload in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), yet the involvement of adipose tissue-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) remains unclear.

Herein, we showed that transplanting adipose tissue from high‑fat diet (HFD)-fed male mice exacerbated insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis in lean recipients.

Adipose‑specific Sirt3 overexpression (Sirt3AKI) alleviated insulin resistance and liver steatosis in HFD-fed male mice, whereas adipose‑specific Sirt3 knockdown aggravated these phenotypes.

Moreover, adipose sEV miRNAs regulated hepatic lipid metabolism in Sirt3AKI male mice.

Echo Biotech Role

Echo Biotech contributed cargo loading; the study also used or cited ExoLoad®.

Related platforms: Echosome®, Research Reagents & Tools

Related services and capabilities: Small RNA / Cargo Loading, Research Reagent / Product Supply

Related products or reagents: ExoLoad® Nucleic Acid Loading Kit

References

Original publication: Adipocyte small extracellular vesicle-derived microRNA-30a-3p exacerbates hepatic steatosis in high fat diet-fed male mice Nature communications. 2026. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-71731-2. PMID/PMCID: 41965824; PMC13243456.