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Title: Patterns of gene expression in pig adipose tissue: insulin-like growth factor system proteins, neuropeptide Y (NPY), NPY receptors, neurotrophic factors and other secreted factors

Author
item Hausman, Gary
item Barb, Claude
item DEAN, ROGER - UGA

Submitted to: Domestic Animal Endocrinology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/9/2008
Publication Date: 2/10/2008
Citation: Hausman, G.J., Barb, C.R., Dean, R.G. 2008. Patterns of gene expression in pig adipose tissue: insulin-like growth factor system proteins, neuropeptide Y (NPY), NPY receptors, neurotrophic factors and other secreted factors. Domestic Animal Endocrinology. 35(1):24-34.

Interpretive Summary: Rodent and human studies show that fat tissue secretes a variety of factors indicating that fat tissue plays an unexpected but important role in physiological and inflammatory responses. Identification of new and unexpected fat tissue secreted factors continues on as global approaches are used to study fat tissue proteins and genes. The gene expression levels in pig fat tissue of a number of growth factors and factors associated with nerves and associated binding proteins and receptors were studied in growing pigs. Most gene levels examined did not change with age. However, the gene levels of several nerve associated factors changed with age and a number of genes were identified in pig fat tissue for the first time. Many of these can significantly influence reproduction and feeding behavior. Therefore, fat tissue secreted factors represent a potential new target for regulating physiological processes in the growing animal. Citation: Nerve associated and growth related factors secreted by fat tissue may regulate physiological growth processes in the growing animal.

Technical Abstract: Total RNA was collected at slaughter from outer subcutaneous adipose tissue (OSQ) and middle subcutaneous adipose tissue (MSQ) samples from gilts at 90, 150, and 210 d ( n =5 / age). Dye labeled cDNA probes were hybridized to custom microarrays (70 mer oligonucleotides) representing over 600 pig genes involved in growth and reproduction. Gene expression intensity ratios revealed little change in expression of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs), hormones, growth factors, neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptors (NPYRs) and other receptors in OSQ and MSQ from growing pigs (90,150 and 210 d). Relative gene expression levels of NPY2R, NPY4R and angiopoietin 2 (ANG-2) distinguished OSQ and MSQ depots in growing pigs. We demonstrated, for the first time, the expression of IGFBP-7, IGFBP-5, NPY1R, NPY2R, NPY, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) genes in pig adipose tissue. Furthermore, adipose tissue CTGF gene expression was upregulated while NPY and NPY2R gene expression were significantly down regulated by age. Many other regulatory factors were not influenced by age in growing pigs but may be influenced by location or depot.