In animals, systemic control of metabolism is conducted by metabolic tissues and relies on the regulated circulation of a plethora of molecules, such as hormones and lipoprotein complexes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of post-transcriptional gene repressors that are present throughout the animal kingdom and have been widely associated with the regulation of gene expression in various contexts, including virtually all aspects of systemic control of metabolism. Here we focus on glucose and lipid metabolism and review current knowledge of the role of miRNAs in their systemic regulation. We survey miRNA-mediated regulation of healthy metabolism as well as the contribution of miRNAs to metabolic dysfunction in disease, particularly diabetes, obesity and liver disease. Although most miRNAs act on the tissue they are produced in, it is now well established that miRNAs can also circulate in bodily fluids, including their intercellular transport by extracellular vesicles, and we discuss the role of such extracellular miRNAs in systemic metabolic control and as potential biomarkers of metabolic status and metabolic disease.

在动物中，新陈代谢的系统控制由代谢组织进行，并依赖于过多分子（如激素和脂蛋白复合物）的调节循环。微小 RNA (miRNA) 是转录后基因抑制因子家族，存在于整个动物界，与各种环境下的基因表达调控广泛相关，包括代谢系统控制的几乎所有方面。在这里，我们关注葡萄糖和脂质代谢，并回顾当前关于 miRNA 在其系统调节中的作用的知识。我们调查了 miRNA 介导的健康代谢调节，以及 miRNA 对疾病代谢功能障碍的贡献，特别是糖尿病、肥胖症和肝病。尽管大多数 miRNA 作用于产生它们的组织，