Research examines how diet affects gene expression in adipose tissue

According to the CDC, 40% of Americans are obese, with an increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, stroke, heart disease and certain cancers. A new study from the University of Delaware aims to tackle the problem by investigating obesity at the genetic level.

Principal Ibra Funcher, assistant professor of kinesiology and applied physiology at UD's University of Health Sciences, found significant differences in gene expression in adipose tissue, more commonly known as fat. Adipose tissue, previously considered fat storage, is now recognized as an important endocrine organ. Tissue dysfunction is associated with serious cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

In research published in Physiological GenomicsFancher and colleagues investigated how diet influence gene expression in adipose tissue using animal models. One group consumed a diet similar to the typical high-fat, high-calorie Western food, while the other had standard chow for over a year.

We expect robust changes in fat, and in fact, fat depots in the high-fat group are quite different, showing significant changes associated with poor diet and obesity. ”

Ibra Funcher, Assistant Professor in Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Health Sciences, UD

Important findings

The study, which was funded by a federal National Institutes of Health grant (Cobre) to the Center for Biomedical Research in UD, found that more than 300 genes were subcutaneously fatty tissue (SAT) It was found that it is differentially manifested. In comparison, nearly 700 genes were differentially expressed in visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Visceral fat, or fat around important organs, increases the risk for a person to serious health problems.

“Comparison between VAT and SAT is tough. The expansion of visceral fat is particularly severe, along with the role of inflammation in obesity and metabolic diseases,” Fancher said. “This study highlights the effects of obesity, often due to poor diet and sedentary lifestyles on specific adipose tissue, which is a major factor that affects health. “

Of the thousands of genes analyzed, Fancher's study included metabolism, calcium handling, and inflammation It guarantees further investigation.

“We're already seeing if these genes are worth improving adipose tissue function in obesity,” Funcher said. “They can be targeted with existing drugs or can produce new therapies specifically designed to affect these genes.”

An innovative approach

Fancher is Bruce Kingham, director of UD's sequencing and genotyping center at Delaware Biotechnology Institute, and Shawn Pol, director of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Data Sciences Core at UD's Infrastructure and Delaware Inbre Center.になったんです。 English: The first thing you can do is to find the best one to do. We work with Song, and even more, and similarly. Department of Computer Information Science, Faculty of Engineering.

“Our core facility provides access to advanced technology and expertise in RNA sequencing and bioinformatics that allow UD researchers to carry out this type of research,” Polson said. “In this project, when analysing the data, we pointed out very clearly the different obesity-related genes and pathways between VAT and SAT.”

From left, he is the director of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Center for Bioinformatics Data Science and the Bioinformatics Data Science Core at the Delaware Inbre, and is a research professor at the Faculty of Computer Information Science, Faculty of Engineering. Ibra Funcher, assistant professor of kinesiology and applied physiology. Markshaw, a research associate at the Delaware Biotechnology Institute's UD Sequencing and Genotyping Center, collaborated on the study.

Malak Alradi, a third-year doctoral student studying molecular biology and genetics, played an important role in organizing genes into pathways to better understand biological significance.

“Before I started this study, I thought that fat was the same in the body, but when I looked at the RNA sequences and studied the various genes and pathways, VAT is much more obese than SAT. I realized I was being affected,” Alradi said. “Our approach shows how these processes are interconnected and why targeting specific pathways makes a difference in obesity treatment.”

The rigorous statistical methods also confirmed important findings regarding fat depots, including changes in metabolism and inflammation.

“It really feels good about the genes we identified,” Funcher said. “It underscores the novelty of our discoveries.”

Next Steps

Fancher is currently planning to study gene expression in human adipose tissue. Working with Dr. Caitlin Halbert, director of bariatric surgery at Christian Care, Fancher aims to determine whether previous findings apply to a human sample.

He also noted the possibility of gender differences.

“Obesity affects gender very differently, so it's not surprising to see gender differences,” Funcher said. “Recognizing these differences is important to tailoring more personalized, targeted interventions.”