title: Transcriptome profiling of visceral adipose tissue in a novel obese rat model, WNIN/Ob & its comparison with other animal models.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adipose tissue dysfunction in obesity is linked to the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. We studied the differential gene expression in retroperitoneal adipose tissue of a novel obese rat model, WNIN/Ob, to understand the possible underlying transcriptional changes involved in the development of obesity and associatedcomorbidities in this model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four month old, male WNIN/Ob lean and obese rats were taken, blood was collected and tissues were dissected. Body composition analysis and adipose tissue histology were performed. Global gene expression in retroperitoneal adipose tissue of lean and obese rats was studied by microarray using Affymetrix GeneChips.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One thousand and seventeen probe sets were downregulated and 963 probe sets were upregulated (more than two-fold) in adipose tissue of WNIN/Ob obese rats when compared to that of lean rats. Small nucleolar RNA (SnoRNA) made most of the underexpressed probe sets, whereas immune system-related genes werethe most overexpressed in the adipose tissues of obese rats. Genes coding for cytoskeletal proteinswere downregulated, whereas genes related to lipid biosynthesis were elevated in the adipose tissue of obese rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Majority of the altered genes and pathways in adipose tissue of WNIN/Ob obese rats were similar to the observations in other obese animal models and human obesity. Based on these observations, it is proposed that WNIN/Ob obese rat model may be a good model to study the mechanisms involved in the development of obesity and its comorbidities. Downregulation of SnoRNA appears to be a novel feature in this obese rat model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR), Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: Siva Sankara Vara Prasad
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sakamuri
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR), Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: Uday Kumar
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Putcha
authors.affiliation: Molecular Genetics Laboratory, National Center for Laboratory Animal Sciences (ICMR), Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: Giridharan Nappan
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Veettil
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR), Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: Vajreswari
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ayyalasomayajula
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics*; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020537:RNA, Small Nucleolar / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis / Q000379:methods; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D020537:RNA, Small Nucleolar