DNA microarray analysis of genes differentially expressed in diet-induced (cafeteria) obese rats.
OBJECTIVE
To better understand the molecular basis of dietary obesity, we examined adipose tissue genes differentially expressed in an obesity model using DNA microarray analysis.


METHODS
We assessed the expression level of over 12,500 transcripts in epididymal fat pads from (cafeteria) obese and control rats with the aid of the array technology.


RESULTS
Cafeteria (obese) rats weighed 50% more and had 2.5-fold higher levels of epididymal fat and elevated levels of circulating leptin. Adipose genes differentially expressed in obese and control rats were categorized into five groups: macronutrient metabolism, transcription factors, hormone receptor and signal transduction, redox and stress proteins, and cellular cytoskeleton. Interestingly, the expression levels of a number of genes involved in lipid metabolism such as glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, stearoyl coenzyme A desaturase, together with the transcription factors implicated in adipocyte differentiation (CAAT/enhancer binding protein-alpha and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma), were significantly increased in obese animals compared with control. The most up-regulated transcripts were the ob (49.2-fold change) and the fatty acid-binding protein genes (15.7- fold change). In contrast, genes related to redox and stress protein were generally down-regulated in obese animals compared with the control.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study showed that in diet-induced obesity, the expression levels of some important genes implicated in lipid metabolism were up-regulated, whereas those related to redox and stress protein were down-regulated in obese animals compared with control. This pattern of gene expression may occur in human obesity cases after high-fat intake.
López
Iciar P
IP
Department of Biochemistry, University of Navarro, 31080 Pamplona, Navarra, Spain.
Marti
Amelia
A
Milagro
Fermin I
FI
Zulet Md
Maria de los Angeles
Mde L
Moreno-Aliaga
Maria Jesus
MJ
Martinez
J Alfredo
JA
De Miguel
Carlos
C
D017667:Adipocytes; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D001835:Body Weight; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D004032:Diet; D004822:Epididymis; D000071438:Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 7; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D015870:Gene Expression; D005993:Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics; D013230:Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C490174:Fabp7 protein, rat; D000071438:Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 7; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D020738:Leptin; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D014157:Transcription Factors; D005993:Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase; D013230:Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase