Transcriptome analysis of the adipose tissue in a mouse model of metabolic syndrome identifies gene signatures related to disease pathogenesis

Genomics. 2020 Nov;112(6):4053-4062. doi: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.06.053. Epub 2020 Jul 8.

Abstract

The white adipose tissue (WAT) contributes to the metabolic imbalance observed in obesity and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) by mechanisms that are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to monitor changes in the transcriptome of epididymal WAT during the development of MetS. ApoE3L.CETP mice were fed a high fat (HFD) or a low-fat (LFD) diet for different time periods. Adipose RNA was analyzed by microarrays. We found an increasing number of differentially expressed transcripts during MetS development. In mice with MetS, 1396 transcripts were differentially expressed including transcripts related to immune/inflammatory responses and extracellular matrix enzymes, suggesting significant inflammation and tissue remodeling. The top list of pathways included focal adhesion, chemokine, B and T cell receptor and MAPK signaling. The data identify for the first time adipose gene signatures in apoE3L.CETP mice with diet-induced MetS and might open new avenues for investigation of potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets.

Keywords: Adipose tissue; Gene signatures; MetS; Metabolic syndrome; Microarrays; Transcriptomics; apoE3L.CETP mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue, White / metabolism*
  • Algorithms
  • Animals
  • Apolipoprotein E3 / genetics
  • Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins / genetics
  • Diet, High-Fat
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways / genetics
  • Metabolic Syndrome / etiology
  • Metabolic Syndrome / genetics*
  • Metabolic Syndrome / metabolism
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Apolipoprotein E3
  • Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins