title: Expression of plasminogen activator-related genes in the adipose tissue of lactating dairy sheep in the early post-weaning period.
abstract: There is growing evidence that plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) is expressed in adipose tissue and its expression is implicated in inflammation that accompanies obesity-associated diseases. The physiological role of other genes implicated in the plasminogen-activating cascade such as urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA), u-PA receptor (u-PAR) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 (PAI-2) in ovine adipose tissue remains unknown. The objective of this study was to examine the changes in the expression of four plasminogen activator (PA)-related genes during the early post-weaning period in dairy ewes. A total of 21 subcutaneous adipose tissue samples were obtained from seven lactating dairy ewes of the Chios breed at weeks 1, 2 and 4 after weaning. Results indicated that expression of all PA-related genes was detected in most of the samples examined. Greatest expression of u-PAR corresponded to highest (week 1), while greatest expression of PAI-2 corresponded to lowest (week 4) rate of lipolysis, as indicated by the expression of hormone-sensitive lipase, in the ovine adipose tissue. There were no significant differences in the expression of the other two PA-related genes (u-PA, PAI-1) throughout the experimental period. Plasminogen activator-related genes are not expressed in a coordinated manner in the adipose tissue of lactating dairy sheep in the early post-weaning period. In conclusion, adipose tissue mobilization is correlated with highest expression of u-PAR and lowest expression of PAI-2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece. gtheod@aua.gr
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Theodorou
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Lampidonis
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Laliotis
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bizelis
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Politis
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003612:Dairying; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D010960:Plasminogen Activators