title: Gene expression profiling in the Cynomolgus macaque Macaca fascicularis shows variation within the normal birth range.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although an adverse early-life environment has been linked to an increased risk of developing the metabolic syndrome, the molecular mechanisms underlying altered disease susceptibility as well as their relevance to humans are largely unknown. Importantly, emerging evidence suggests that these effects operate within the normal range of birth weights and involve mechanisms of developmental palsticity rather than pathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  To explore this further, we utilised a non-human primate model Macaca fascicularis (Cynomolgus macaque) which shares with humans the same progressive history of the metabolic syndrome. Using microarray we compared tissues from neonates in the average birth weight (50-75th centile) to those of lower birth weight (5-25th centile) and studied the effect of different growth trajectories within the normal range on gene expression levels in the umbilical cord, neonatal liver and skeletal muscle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 1973 genes which were differentially expressed in the three tissue types between average and low birth weight animals (P < 0.05). Gene ontology analysis identified that these genes were involved in metabolic processes including cellular lipid metabolism, cellular biosynthesis, cellular macromolecule synthesis, cellular nitrogen metabolism, cellular carbohydrate metabolism, cellular catabolism, nucleotide and nucleic acid metabolism, regulation of molecular functions, biological adhesion and development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These differences in gene expression levels between animals in the upper and lower percentiles of the normal birth weight range may point towards early life metabolic adaptations that in later life result in differences in disease risk.
authors: Growth, Development and Metabolism Programme, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Brenner Centre for Molecular Medicine, 30 Medical Drive, Singapore. bsemerald@uaeu.ac.ae
authors: Bright Starling
authors: BS
authors: Emerald
authors: Keefe
authors: K
authors: Chng
authors: Shinya
authors: S
authors: Masuda
authors: Deborah M
authors: DM
authors: Sloboda
authors: Mark H
authors: MH
authors: Vickers
authors: Ravi
authors: R
authors: Kambadur
authors: Peter D
authors: PD
authors: Gluckman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008252:Macaca fascicularis / Q000235:genetics*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000378:metabolism