Salvianolic acid B plays an anti-obesity role in high fat diet-induced obese mice by regulating the expression of mRNA, circRNA, and lncRNA.

Background: Adipose tissue plays a central role in obesity-related metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Salvianolic acid B (Sal B), a water-soluble ingredient derived from Salvia miltiorrhiza , has been shown to reduce obesity and obesity-related metabolic diseases by suppressing adipogenesis. However, the role of Sal B in white adipose tissue (WAT) is not yet clear.

Methods: Illumina Hiseq 4000 was used to study the effects of Sal B on the expression of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and circular RNA (circRNA) in epididymal white adipose tissue induced by a high fat diet in obese mice.

Results: RNA-Seq data showed that 234 lncRNAs, 19 circRNAs, and 132 mRNAs were differentially expressed in WAT under Sal B treatment. The up-regulated protein-coding genes in WAT of the Sal B-treated group were involved in the insulin resistance pathway, while the down-regulated genes mainly participated in the IL-17 signaling pathway. Other pathways may play an important role in the formation and differentiation of adipose tissue, such as B cell receptor signaling. Analysis of the lncRNA-mRNA network provides potential targets for lncRNAs in energy metabolism. We speculate that Sal B may serve as a potential therapeutic approach for obesity.