Adipose-Specific Expression, Developmental and Nutritional Regulation of the Gene-Encoding Retinol-Binding Protein 7 in Pigs

A PLIN1 polymorphism is associated with fat production in male emus

The emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is a novel poultry species that produces meat, eggs, and fat. Although emus have recently been domesticated, genetic improvements to establish strains have scarcely progressed. In this study, we investigated the relationship between production traits and perilipin 1-encoding gene (PLIN1) polymorphisms in the emus. We determined the partial complementary DNA (cDNA) sequence of the PLIN1, which is involved in lipid droplet formation. We identified four nucleotide substitution sites (c.270C>T, c.321T>C, c.587A>T, and c.639C>T) in the PLIN1 gene of emus. Of these, c.587A>T is a non-synonymous substitution that converts lysine to methionine at the 196th codon (p.K196M). Although p.K196M was predicted to affect the production traits of emus, a large deflection in genotype frequency was observed in this study; thus, we could not investigate the relationship between genotypes and phenotypes. In males, the fat yields of the CC, CT, and TT genotypes in c.270C>T were 0.25 ± 0.06, 0.22 ± 0.06, and 0.21 ± 0.07 kg, respectively, while the meat yields of the CC, CT, and TT genotypes in c.270C>T were 0.15 ± 0.01, 0.16 ± 0.02, and 0.16 ± 0.03 kg, respectively. These results indicate that male emus with the CC genotype had a significantly higher fat content and lower meat productivity than male emus with the other genotypes (P < 0.05). Therefore, c.270C>T in PLIN1 affects fat and meat production in males. Our findings may contribute to the effective genetic improvement of the emus.

Integrated analysis of muscle transcriptome, miRNA, and proteome of Chinese indigenous breed Ningxiang pig in three developmental stages

The Ningxiang pig, a distinguished local breed in China, is recognized for its good meat quality traits. This study examines the proteomics of Ningxiang pigs at three developmental stages and delves into the upstream transcriptomics of these proteomics. Such an analysis facilitates a deeper understanding of the molecular interplay between proteins and transcriptomes in the Ningxiang pig muscle, influencing muscle growth and development. In this research, we analyzed the muscles of Ningxiang pigs at three developmental stages: 30 days in weaned piglets, 90 days in nursery pigs, and 210 days in late fattening pigs. There a total of 16 differentially co-expressed miRNAs (ssc-miRNA-1, ssc-miRNA-378, ssc-miRNA-143, ssc-miRNA-30e, etc.), 74 differentially co-expressed mRNA (PLIN3, CPT2, IGF2 and HSP90AB1, etc.) have been identified in the three stages. 572 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) (APOC3, NDUFA2, HSPD1, ATP5E, PDHA1, etc.) were readily identified by comparing different time periods. According to the KEGG enrich pathway results that DAPs most enriched in growth and development pathways, immune mechanism pathways and maintaining functions of physical. Through short time-series expression miner (STEM) association analysis, a total of 571 negative miRNA-mRNA interaction pairs and 2 negative miRNA-mRNA-protein (Chr05_11955-Pig.17268.1-ATP5F1B, ssc-miR-194a-3p-Pig.15802.1-ACY1) interaction pairs were found. Our study provides a theoretical basis on molecular mechanism for the study of IMF deposition, muscle growth and immunity in Ningxiang pig breed.

Global Single-Cell Sequencing Landscape of Adipose Tissue of Different Anatomical Site Origin in Humans

Chronic refractory wounds (CRW) are one of the most serious clinical challenges for surgeons to address. Stromal vascular fraction gels (SVFG), including human adipose stem cells (hASCs), have excellent vascular regenerative and tissue repair properties. Here, we combined single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of leg subcutaneous adipose tissue samples with scRNA-seq data from abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue, leg subcutaneous adipose tissue, and visceral adipose tissue samples from public databases. The results showed specific differences in cellular levels in adipose tissue from different anatomical site sources. We identified cells including CD4⁺ T cells, hASCs, adipocyte (APC), epithelial (Ep) cells, and preadipocyte. In particular, the dynamics between groups of hASCs, epithelial cells, APCs, and precursor cells in adipose tissue of different anatomical site origins were more significant. Furthermore, our analysis reveals alterations at the cellular level and molecular level, as well as the biological signaling pathways involved in these subpopulations of cells with specific alterations. In particular, certain subpopulations of hASCs have higher cell stemness, which may be related to lipogenic differentiation capacity and may be beneficial in promoting CRW treatment and healing. In general, our study captures a human single-cell transcriptome profile across adipose depots, the cell type identification and analysis of which may help dissect the function and role of cells with specific alterations present in adipose tissue and may provide new ideas and approaches for the treatment of CRW in the clinical setting.

Effects of age on subcutaneous adipose tissue proteins in Chinese indigenous Ningxiang pig by TMT-labeled quantitative proteomics

Adipose tissue not only affects meat quality and animal productivity, but also participates in inflammation and immunity. Ningxiang pig is famous for their excellent meat quality, disease resistance and tolerance of roughage. It is not yet well known how proteins in adipose tissue is dynamically regulated during the growth of Ningxiang pig. This report studies the proteomic changes in subcutaneous adipose tissue in Ningxiang pigs to gain a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of fat development during the growth period. By TMT-labeled quantitative proteomic analysis of subcutaneous adipose tissue of 9 purebred Ningxiang pigs of different ages, we identified 2533 unique proteins and 716 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs), of which more than half of the DAPs were concentrated in the 90d-210d period. Retrograde endocannabinoid signaling was only significantly enriched in DAPs of N90d vs N30d, Alcoholism and Graft-versus-host disease were only significantly enriched in DAPs of N210d vs N90d. Proteins related to dilated cardiomyopathy was found to be an important pathway in fat development and lipid metabolism. A variety of novel DAPs involved in maintaining mitochondrial function and cell viability, such as NDUFS6, SDHB, COX5A, ATP5D and TNNT1, which play a role in controlling the prediction networks, may indirectly regulate the development and functional maintenance of adipocytes. SIGNIFICANCE: These age-dependent DAPs discovered in this study may help expand the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the development, function maintenance and transformation of adipose tissue in Ningxiang pig for developing new strategies for improving meat quality and pig breeding in the future.

Retinol Binding Protein 7 Promotes Adipogenesis in vitro and Regulates Expression of Genes Involved in Retinol Metabolism

Retinol is an essential nutrient in animals. Its metabolites, specifically retinoic acid (RA), are crucial for cell differentiation, including adipogenesis. Retinol binding protein 7 (Rbp7) is under the control of PPARγ, the master regulator of adipogenesis. However, the role of RBP7 in adipogenesis is unclear. Our study showed that Rbp7 was abundantly expressed in white and brown mouse adipose tissues and had a higher expression in adipocytes than in stromal vascular fraction. Rbp7 overexpression promoted 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation with increased triglyceride accumulation and up-regulation of Pparγ, Fabp4, C/ebpα, and AdipoQ. Rbp7 deficient adipocytes had opposite effects of the overexpression, which were rescued by RA supplementation. Indirect assessment of relative nuclear RA levels using RAR response element (RARE)-Luc reporter assay demonstrated that Rbp7 overexpression significantly increased RARE-Luc reporter activity. Rbp7 overexpression significantly increased expression of Raldh1, responsible for RA production, and up-regulation of Lrat and Cyp26a1, involved in retinol storage and RA catabolism, respectively, in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Rbp7 deficient adipocytes had opposite effects of the overexpression of those genes involved in retinol metabolism. These data suggest that RBP7 increases transcriptional activity of RARE that may induce negative feedback responses via regulation of the gene expression for retinol homeostasis. Our data indicate critical RBP7 functions in adipocytes: regulation of transcriptional activity of RARE and adipocytes differentiation, potentially providing a new target for obesity therapy.