[The changes of gene expression of iron transporters for duodenal iron uptake and export in diet-induced obese mice].
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to determine the gene expression changes of iron transporters-divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) and ferroportin 1 (Fpn1) in the duodenal tissue of diet-induced obese mice.


METHODS
C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal control (NC) and obesity model (OM) group, 6 in each, and fed on conventional and high-fat diet respectively for 14 weeks by table of random number. Then the DMT1 and Fpn1 mRNA contents in duodenal tissues of the animals were measured by Real-time PCR method, and the protein expression levels were analyzed by Western blot test.


RESULTS
The Real-time PCR detection results showed that, compared with the NC group for which the mRNA expression level was defined as 1.0, the Fpn1 mRNA expression in OM group (0.58±0.11) was reduced significantly (t = 6.71, P = 0.014), whereas the relative expression level of DMT1 mRNA in OM group (0.89±0.26) showed no obvious alteration (t = 2.01, P = 0.122). Western blot results showed that the relative protein expression levels of Fpn1 in OM and NC group were 0.32±0.06 and 0.65±0.19, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (t = 5.37, P = 0.026). The DMT1 protein relative abundance was 0.88±0.21 in OM group and 0.92±0.17 in NC group, and the difference has no statistical significance (t = 1.84, P = 0.185).


CONCLUSIONS
Fpn1 gene expression is inhibited in the duodenum of diet-induced obesity mouse while DMT1 expression keeps unchanged, and this implies that decreased iron export from enterocytes into circulation might be responsible for the impaired iron absorption in obesity.
Department of Children's and Women's Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China.
Man
M
Li
Chen
C
Wang
Xin
X
Qiao
Wanshan
W
Zhang
Email: shangwei@ccmu.edu.cn.
Shougang
S
Wei
D000818:Animals; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D004032:Diet; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D004386:Duodenum; D015870:Gene Expression; D007501:Iron; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008820:Mice, Obese; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000098742:Ferroportin; D000099236:Solute Carrier Family 11, Member 2
D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D007501:Iron; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000098742:Ferroportin; D000099236:Solute Carrier Family 11, Member 2