Trefoil factor family member 2 (Tff2) KO mice are protected from high-fat diet-induced obesity

A machine-learning algorithm integrating baseline serum proteomic signatures predicts exercise responsiveness in overweight males with prediabetes

The molecular transducers conferring the benefits of chronic exercise in diabetes prevention remain to be comprehensively investigated. Herein, serum proteomic profiling of 688 inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers in 36 medication-naive overweight and obese men with prediabetes reveals hundreds of exercise-responsive proteins modulated by 12-week high-intensity interval exercise training, including regulators of metabolism, cardiovascular system, inflammation, and apoptosis. Strong associations are found between proteins involved in gastro-intestinal mucosal immunity and metabolic outcomes. Exercise-induced changes in trefoil factor 2 (TFF2) are associated with changes in insulin resistance and fasting insulin, whereas baseline levels of the pancreatic secretory granule membrane major glycoprotein GP2 are related to changes in fasting glucose and glucose tolerance. A hybrid set of 23 proteins including TFF2 are differentially altered in exercise responders and non-responders. Furthermore, a machine-learning algorithm integrating baseline proteomic signatures accurately predicts individualized metabolic responsiveness to exercise training.

Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine (Sparc) KO Leads to an Accelerated Ageing Phenotype Which Is Improved by Exercise Whereas SPARC Overexpression Mimics Exercise Effects in Mice

Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is a matricellular glycoprotein implicated in various functions, including metabolism, tissue regeneration, and functional homeostasis. SPARC/Sparc declines with ageing but increases with exercise. We aim to verify two hypotheses: (1) SPARC deficiency leads to an ageing-like phenotype (metabolic decline, muscle loss, etc.), and (2) SPARC overexpression would mimic exercise, counteract ageing, and improve age-related changes. Our mice experiments are divided into two parts. First, we explore the consequences of Sparc knockout (KO) and compare them to the ageing effects. We also observe the effects of exercise. In the second part, we study the effects of SPARC overexpression and compare them to the exercise benefits. At the end, we make an analysis of the results to point out the analogies between Sparc KO and the ageing-like phenotype on the one hand and make comparisons between SPARC overexpression and exercise in the context of exercise counteracting ageing. The measurements were mainly related to tissue weights, adiposity, metabolism, and muscle strength. The main findings are that Sparc KO reduced glucose tolerance, muscle glucose transporter expression, and abdominal adipose tissue weight but increased glycogen content in the muscle. SPARC overexpression increased muscle strength, muscle mass, and expressions of the muscle glucose transporter and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation but lowered the glycemia and the adiposity, especially in males. Collectively, these findings, and the data we have previously reported, show that Sparc KO mice manifest an ageing-like phenotype, whereas SPARC overexpression and exercise generate similar benefits. The benefits are towards counteracting both the SPARC deficiency-induced ageing-like phenotype as well as reversing the age-related changes. The potential applications of these findings are to build/optimize Sparc KO-based animal models of various health conditions and, on the other hand, to develop therapies based on introducing SPARC or targeting SPARC-related pathways to mimic exercise against age-related and metabolic disorders.

Diet Impact on Obesity beyond Calories and Trefoil Factor Family 2 (TFF2) as an Illustration: Metabolic Implications and Potential Applications

Obesity is a health problem with increasing impacts on public health, economy and even social life. In order to reestablish the energy balance, obesity management focuses mainly on two pillars; exercise and diet. Beyond the contribution to the caloric intake, the diet nutrients and composition govern a variety of properties. This includes the energy balance-independent properties and the indirect metabolic effects. Whereas the energy balance-independent properties are close to "pharmacological" effects and include effects such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, the indirect metabolic effects represent the contribution a diet can have on energy metabolism beyond the caloric contribution itself, which include the food intake control and metabolic changes. As an illustration, we also described the metabolic implication and hypothetical pathways of the high-fat diet-induced gene Trefoil Factor Family 2. The properties the diet has can have a variety of applications mainly in pharmacology and nutrition and further explore the "pharmacologically" active food towards potential therapeutic applications.

Proteomic and Bioinformatic Analysis of Decellularized Pancreatic Extracellular Matrices

Tissue microenvironments are rich in signaling molecules. However, factors in the tissue matrix that can serve as tissue-specific cues for engineering pancreatic tissues have not been thoroughly identified. In this study, we performed a comprehensive proteomic analysis of porcine decellularized pancreatic extracellular matrix (dpECM). By profiling dpECM collected from subjects of different ages and genders, we showed that the detergent-free decellularization method developed in this study permits the preservation of approximately 62.4% more proteins than a detergent-based method. In addition, we demonstrated that dpECM prepared from young pigs contained approximately 68.5% more extracellular matrix proteins than those prepared from adult pigs. Furthermore, we categorized dpECM proteins by biological process, molecular function, and cellular component through gene ontology analysis. Our study results also suggested that the protein composition of dpECM is significantly different between male and female animals while a KEGG enrichment pathway analysis revealed that dpECM protein profiling varies significantly depending on age. This study provides the proteome of pancreatic decellularized ECM in different animal ages and genders, which will help identify the bioactive molecules that are pivotal in creating tissue-specific cues for engineering tissues in vitro.

Trefoil Factor Family Member 2 Expression as an Indicator of the Severity of the High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity

Trefoil Factor Family Member 2 (TFF2) belongs to TFF family peptides that includes TFF1, TFF2, TFF3. TFF2 is mainly known for its roles in the mucosal protection. In the context of obesity and high fat diet (HFD), Tff2 has been characterized as a HFD-induced gene. The knock-out of Tff2 in mice lead to the protection from HFD-induced obesity with a metabolic profile towards a negative energy balance. Such HFD-specific expression gives Tff2 a pattern worth exploring in biomedical research. Indeed, measuring TFF2/TFF2/Tff2 expression in biological samples following the ingestion of high-fat diet reflects the biological "responsiveness" to the lipids ingestion and would reflect the severity of obesity establishment afterwards. Such property could be explored for instance to screen animal models, evaluate the predisposition to HFD-induced obesity as well as in biomedical and clinical applications. Results might advance obesity research especially in terms of understanding lipid-induced signals, appetite control and adiposity storage.

Trefoil Factor Family Member 2: From a High-Fat-Induced Gene to a Potential Obesity Therapy Target

Obesity has its epidemiological patterns continuously increasing. With controlling both diet and exercise being the main approaches to manage the energy metabolism balance, a high-fat (HF) diet is of particular importance. Indeed, lipids have a low satiety potential but a high caloric density. Thus, focusing on pharmacologically targetable pathways remains an approach with promising therapeutic potential. Within this context, trefoil factor family member 2 (Tff2) has been characterized as specifically induced by HF diet rather than low-fat diet. TFF2 has also been linked to diverse neurological mechanisms and metabolic patterns suggesting its role in energy balance. The hypothesis is that TFF2 would be a HF diet-induced signal that regulates metabolism with a focus on lipids. Within this review, we put the spotlight on key findings highlighting this line of thought. Importantly, the hypothetical mechanisms pointed highlight TFF2 as an important contributor to obesity development via increasing lipids intestinal absorption and anabolism. Therefore, an outlook for future experimental activities and evaluation of the therapeutic potential of TFF2 inhibition is given. Indeed, its knockdown or downregulation would contribute to an antiobesity phenotype. We believe this work represents an addition to our understanding of the lipidic molecular implications in obesity, which will contribute to develop therapies aiming to manage the lipidic metabolic pathways including the absorption, storage and metabolism via targeting TFF2-related pathways. We briefly discuss important relevant concepts for both basic and clinical researchers.

High-Fat Diet-Induced Trefoil Factor Family Member 2 (TFF2) to Counteract the Immune-Mediated Damage in Mice

Simple Summary

High-fat (HF) diet induces both immune-mediated damage and trefoil factor family member 2 (Tff2) expression. As TFF2 has tissue repair and protection properties, this suggests that HF diet-induced Tff2 production and the resulting TFF2 mucosal protective effects would be a mechanism to counteract the HF diet-induced tissue damage. On the other hand, the induction of Tff2 by HF diet could indicate that TFF2 is a food intake regulator (appetite control) since Tff2 is also expressed in the brain. This highlights the importance of exploring TFF2-related pathways in the context of obesity management towards potential therapies.

Abstract

Physiological homeostasis requires a balance between the immunological functions and the resulting damage/side effects of the immunological reactions including those related to high-fat (HF) diet. Within this context, whereas HF diet, through diverse mechanisms (such as inflammation), leads to immune-mediated damage, trefoil factor family member 2 (Tff2) represents a HF diet-induced gene. On the other hand, TFF2 both promotes tissue repair and reduces inflammation. These properties are towards counteracting the immune-mediated damage resulting from the HF diet. These observations suggest that the HF diet-induction of Tff2 could be a regulatory pathway aiming to counteract the immune-mediated damage resulting from the HF diet. Interestingly, since Tff2 expression increases with HF diet and with Tff2 also expressed in the brain, we also hypothesize that TFF2 could be a HF diet-induced food intake-control signal that reduces appetite. This hypothesis fits with counteracting the immune damage since reducing the food intake will reduce the HF intake and therefore, reduces the HF diet-induced tissue damage. Such food intake signaling would be an indirect mechanism by which TFF2 promotes tissue repair as well as a pathway worth exploring for potential obesity management pharmacotherapies.

Obesity as a Neuroendocrine Reprogramming

Obesity represents a health problem resulting from a broken balance between energy intake and energy expenditure leading to excess fat accumulation. Elucidating molecular and cellular pathways beyond the establishment of obesity remains the main challenge facing the progress in understanding obesity and developing its treatment. Within this context, this opinion presents obesity as a reprogrammer of selected neurological and endocrine patterns in order to adapt to the new metabolic imbalance represented by obesity status. Indeed, during obesity development, the energy balance is shifted towards increased energy storage, mainly but not only, in adipose tissues. These new metabolic patterns that obesity represents require changes at different cellular and metabolic levels under the control of the neuroendocrine systems through different regulatory signals. Therefore, there are neuroendocrine changes involving diverse mechanisms, such as neuroplasticity and hormonal sensitivity, and, thus, the modifications in the neuroendocrine systems in terms of metabolic functions fit with the changes accompanying the obesity-induced metabolic phenotype. Such endocrine reprogramming can explain why it is challenging to lose weight once obesity is established, because it would mean to go against new endogenous metabolic references resulting from a new “setting” of energy metabolism-related neuroendocrine regulation. Investigating the concepts surrounding the classification of obesity as a neuroendocrine reprogrammer could optimize our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and, importantly, reveal some of the mysteries surrounding the molecular pathogenesis of obesity, as well as focusing the pharmacological search for antiobesity therapies on both neurobiology synaptic plasticity and hormonal interaction sensitivity.

Exercise Training of Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine (Sparc) KO Mice Suggests That Exercise-Induced Muscle Phenotype Changes Are SPARC-Dependent

We previously identified secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (Sparc) as an exercise-induced gene in young and elderly individuals. Via this animal experiment, we aim to identify selected implications of SPARC mainly within the muscle in the contexts of exercise. Mice were divided into eight groups based on three variables (age, genotype and exercise): Old (O) or young (Y) × Sparc knock-out (KO) or wild-type (WT) × sedentary (Sed) or exercise (Ex). The exercised groups were trained for 12 weeks at the lactate threshold (LT) speed (including 4 weeks of adaptation period) and all mice were sacrificed afterwards. Body and selected tissues were weighed, and lactate levels in different conditions measured. Expression of skeletal muscle (SM) collagen type I alpha 1 chain (COL1A1) and mitochondrially encoded cytochrome c oxidase I (MT-CO1) in addition to SM strength (grip power) were also measured. Ageing increased the body and white adipose tissue (WAT) weights but decreased SM weight percentage (to body weight) and MT-CO1 expression (in WT). Exercise increased SM COL1A1 in WT mice and MT-CO1 expression, as well as weight percentage of the tibialis anterior muscle, and decreased WAT weight (trend). Compared to WT mice, Sparc KO mice had lower body, muscle and WAT weights, with a decrease in SM MT-CO1 and COL1A1 expression with no genotype effect on lactate levels in all our blood lactate measures. Sparc KO effects on body composition, adiposity and metabolic patterns are toward a reduced WAT and body weight, but with a negative metabolic and functional phenotype of SM. Whereas such negative effects on SM are worsened with ageing, they are relatively improved by exercise. Importantly, our data suggest that the exercise-induced changes in the SM phenotype, in terms of increased performance (metabolic, strength and development), including lactate-induced changes, are SPARC-dependent.

Trefoil Factor Family Member 2 (TFF2) as an Inflammatory-Induced and Anti-Inflammatory Tissue Repair Factor

Trefoil factor family member 2 (TFF2) is known for its involvement in mucosal repair. Whereas it is overexpressed during inflammatory processes, adding TFF2 leads to an anti-inflammatory effect that would contribute to create the microenvironment required for tissue repair. These properties present TFF2 with a homeostatic pattern during inflammatory processes as illustrated by selected examples.

Exercise and High-Fat Diet in Obesity: Functional Genomics Perspectives of Two Energy Homeostasis Pillars

The heavy impact of obesity on both the population general health and the economy makes clarifying the underlying mechanisms, identifying pharmacological targets, and developing efficient therapies for obesity of high importance. The main struggle facing obesity research is that the underlying mechanistic pathways are yet to be fully revealed. This limits both our understanding of pathogenesis and therapeutic progress toward treating the obesity epidemic. The current anti-obesity approaches are mainly a controlled diet and exercise which could have limitations. For instance, the “classical” anti-obesity approach of exercise might not be practical for patients suffering from disabilities that prevent them from routine exercise. Therefore, therapeutic alternatives are urgently required. Within this context, pharmacological agents could be relatively efficient in association to an adequate diet that remains the most efficient approach in such situation. Herein, we put a spotlight on potential therapeutic targets for obesity identified following differential genes expression-based studies aiming to find genes that are differentially expressed under diverse conditions depending on physical activity and diet (mainly high-fat), two key factors influencing obesity development and prognosis. Such functional genomics approaches contribute to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that both control obesity development and switch the genetic, biochemical, and metabolic pathways toward a specific energy balance phenotype. It is important to clarify that by “gene-related pathways”, we refer to genes, the corresponding proteins and their potential receptors, the enzymes and molecules within both the cells in the intercellular space, that are related to the activation, the regulation, or the inactivation of the gene or its corresponding protein or pathways. We believe that this emerging area of functional genomics-related exploration will not only lead to novel mechanisms but also new applications and implications along with a new generation of treatments for obesity and the related metabolic disorders especially with the modern advances in pharmacological drug targeting and functional genomics techniques.

Comparative RNA-Seq transcriptome analyses reveal dynamic time-dependent effects of 56Fe, 16O, and 28Si irradiation on the induction of murine hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

One of the health risks posed to astronauts during deep space flights is exposure to high charge, high-energy (HZE) ions (Z > 13), which can lead to the induction of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, little is known on the molecular mechanisms of HZE irradiation-induced HCC.

Results

We performed comparative RNA-Seq transcriptomic analyses to assess the carcinogenic effects of 600 MeV/n ⁵⁶Fe (0.2 Gy), 1 GeV/n ¹⁶O (0.2 Gy), and 350 MeV/n ²⁸Si (0.2 Gy) ions in a mouse model for irradiation-induced HCC. C3H/HeNCrl mice were subjected to total body irradiation to simulate space environment HZE-irradiation, and liver tissues were extracted at five different time points post-irradiation to investigate the time-dependent carcinogenic response at the transcriptomic level. Our data demonstrated a clear difference in the biological effects of these HZE ions, particularly immunological, such as Acute Phase Response Signaling, B Cell Receptor Signaling, IL-8 Signaling, and ROS Production in Macrophages. Also seen in this study were novel unannotated transcripts that were significantly affected by HZE. To investigate the biological functions of these novel transcripts, we used a machine learning technique known as self-organizing maps (SOMs) to characterize the transcriptome expression profiles of 60 samples (45 HZE-irradiated, 15 non-irradiated control) from liver tissues. A handful of localized modules in the maps emerged as groups of co-regulated and co-expressed transcripts. The functional context of these modules was discovered using overrepresentation analysis. We found that these spots typically contained enriched populations of transcripts related to specific immunological molecular processes (e.g., Acute Phase Response Signaling, B Cell Receptor Signaling, IL-3 Signaling), and RNA Transcription/Expression.

Conclusions

A large number of transcripts were found differentially expressed post-HZE irradiation. These results provide valuable information for uncovering the differences in molecular mechanisms underlying HZE specific induced HCC carcinogenesis. Additionally, a handful of novel differentially expressed unannotated transcripts were discovered for each HZE ion. Taken together, these findings may provide a better understanding of biological mechanisms underlying risks for HCC after HZE irradiation and may also have important implications for the discovery of potential countermeasures against and identification of biomarkers for HZE-induced HCC.

Mouse trefoil factor 3 ameliorated high-fat-diet-induced hepatic steatosis via increasing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α-mediated fatty acid oxidation

Hepatic trefoil factor 3 (Tff3) was identified as a potential protein for the treatment of diabetes, yet the effect of Tff3 on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has never been explored. Here, we found that the expression of hepatic Tff3 was significantly decreased in NAFLD mice models, suggesting that Tff3 was a potential marker gene for NAFLD. Restoring the expression of Tff3 in the liver of NAFLD mice, including diabetic (db), obese (ob/ob), and diet-induced obese mice, with adenovirus-mediated Tff3 (Ad-Tff3) apparently attenuates the fatty liver phenotype. In contrast, adenovirus-mediated knockdown of Tff3 (Ad-shTff3) in C57BL/6J mice results in an obvious fatty liver phenotype. Furthermore, our molecular experiments indicated that hepatic Tff3 could alleviate hepatic steatosis via upregulating the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα) directly, thereby enhancing the fatty acid oxidation process in the liver. Notably, we found that Tff3 attenuates the fatty liver phenotype independent of modulation of lipogenesis and improves the capacity of anti-inflammation. Overall, our results suggested that hepatic Tff3 could be effectively used as a potential therapy target for the treatment of NAFLD.

Energy and metabolic pathways in trefoil factor family member 2 (Tff2) KO mice beyond the protection from high-fat diet-induced obesity

AIMS

Trefoil factor family member 2 (TFF2) is a small gut peptide. We have previously shown that Tff2 knock out (KO) mice are protected from high-fat (HF) diet-induced obesity (De Giorgio et al., 2013a). Thus, exploring Tff2 KO-related pathways of mice at the genomic, proteinic and biochemical levels would allow us to elucidate the processes behind this protection from obesity.

MAIN METHODS

To explore the metabolic and energetic effects related to Tff2 deficiency, we used sampled blood from the previous study to measure levels of free fatty acids, glucose, glycerol and triglycerides in serum. Expression levels of selected genes and proteins related to energy metabolism in the skeletal muscle, liver and adipose tissue were also studied.

KEY FINDINGS

Following the 12-wk challenging of Tff2 KO and WT mice with both HF and low-fat diet, Tff2 KO mice had lower levels of serum glucose, triglycerides and glycerol. Importantly, western blotting and Q_RT-PCR revealed that the expression levels of selected genes and proteins are toward less fat storage and increased energy expenditure by enhancing lipid and glucose utilization via oxidative phosphorylation.

SIGNIFICANCE

We mapped a part of the metabolic and biochemical pathways of lipids and glucose involving the adipose tissue, liver, skeletal muscle and sympathetic nervous system that protect Tff2 KO mice from the HF diet-induced obesity. Our data highlight Tff2-related pathways as potential targets for obesity therapies.

The Stomach as an Endocrine Organ: Expression of Key Modulatory Genes and Their Contribution to Obesity and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Obesity is currently seen in epidemic proportions globally and is one of the largest contributors to the development of NAFLD. The spectrum of NAFLD, particularly the progressive forms of NASH, is likely to become the leading cause of liver disease in the next decade.

RECENT FINDINGS

Soluble molecules, encoded by the stomach tissue, have been shown to have pleiotropic effects in both central and peripheral systems involved in energy homeostasis and obesity regulation. As such, the stomach is one of the important players in the complex, multi-system deregulation leading to obesity and NAFLD. The understanding of the stomach tissue as an active endocrine organ that contributes to the signaling milieu leading to the development of obesity and NAFLD is crucial.

Significant obesity-associated gene expression changes occur in the stomach but not intestines in obese mice

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract can have significant impact on the regulation of the whole‐body metabolism and may contribute to the development of obesity and diabetes. To systemically elucidate the role of the GI tract in obesity, we performed a transcriptomic analysis in different parts of the GI tract of two obese mouse models: ob/ob and high‐fat diet (HFD) fed mice. Compared to their lean controls, significant changes in the gene expression were observed in both obese mouse groups in the stomach (ob/ob: 959; HFD: 542). In addition, these changes were quantitatively much higher than in the intestine. Despite the difference in genetic background, the two mouse models shared 296 similar gene expression changes in the stomach. Among those genes, some had known associations to obesity, diabetes, and insulin resistance. In addition, the gene expression profiles strongly suggested an increased gastric acid secretion in both obese mouse models, probably through an activation of the gastrin pathway. In conclusion, our data reveal a previously unknown dominant connection between the stomach and obesity in murine models extensively used in research.

TFF2, a MUC6-binding lectin stabilizing the gastric mucus barrier and more (Review)

The peptide TFF2 (formerly 'spasmolytic polypeptide'), a member of the trefoil factor family (TFF) containing two TFF domains, is mainly expressed together with the mucin MUC6 in the gastric epithelium and duodenal Brunner's glands. Pathologically, TFF2 expression is observed ectopically during stone diseases, chronic inflammatory conditions and in several metaplastic and neoplastic epithelia; most prominent being the 'spasmolytic polypeptide-expressing metaplasia' (SPEM), which is an established gastric precancerous lesion. TFF2 plays a critical role in maintaining gastric mucosal integrity and appears to restrain tumorigenesis in the stomach. Recently, porcine TFF2 has been shown to interact with the gastric mucin MUC6 and thus stabilize the gastric mucus barrier. On the one hand, TFF2 binds to MUC6 via non-covalent lectin interactions with the glycotope GlcNAcα1→4Galβ1→R. On the other hand, TFF2 is probably also covalently bound to MUC6 via disulfide bridges. Thus, implications for the complex multimeric assembly, cross-linking, and packaging of MUC6 as well as the rheology of gastric mucus are discussed in detail in this review. Furthermore, TFF2 is also expressed in minor amounts in the immune and nervous systems. Thus, similar to galectins, its lectin activity would perfectly enable TFF2 to form multivalent complexes and cross-linked lattices with a plethora of transmembrane glycoproteins and thus modulate different signal transduction processes. This could explain the multiple and diverse biological effects of TFF2 [e.g., motogenic, (anti)apoptotic, and angiogenic effects]. Finally, a function during fertilization is also possible for TFF domains because they occur as shuffled modules in certain zona pellucida proteins.

Trefoil Factor 3 (TFF3) Is Regulated by Food Intake, Improves Glucose Tolerance and Induces Mucinous Metaplasia

Trefoil factor 3 (TFF3), also called intestinal trefoil factor or Itf, is a 59 amino acid peptide found as a homodimer predominantly along the gastrointestinal tract and in serum. TFF3 expression is elevated during gastrointestinal adenoma progression and has been shown to promote mucosal wound healing. Here we show that in contrast to other trefoil factor family members, TFF1 and TFF2, TFF3 is highly expressed in mouse duodenum, jejunum and ileum and that its expression is regulated by food intake. Overexpression of TFF3 using a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector, or daily administration of recombinant TFF3 protein in vivo improved glucose tolerance in a diet-induced obesity mouse model. Body weight, fasting insulin, triglyceride, cholesterol and leptin levels were not affected by TFF3 treatment. Induction of mucinous metaplasia was observed in mice with AAV-mediated TFF3 overexpression, however, no such adverse histological effect was seen after the administration of recombinant TFF3 protein. Altogether these results suggest that the therapeutic potential of targeting TFF3 to treat T2D may be limited.

Analysis of genome-wide copy number variations in Chinese indigenous and western pig breeds by 60 K SNP genotyping arrays

Copy number variations (CNVs) represent a substantial source of structural variants in mammals and contribute to both normal phenotypic variability and disease susceptibility. Although low-resolution CNV maps are produced in many domestic animals, and several reports have been published about the CNVs of porcine genome, the differences between Chinese and western pigs still remain to be elucidated. In this study, we used Porcine SNP60 BeadChip and PennCNV algorithm to perform a genome-wide CNV detection in 302 individuals from six Chinese indigenous breeds (Tongcheng, Laiwu, Luchuan, Bama, Wuzhishan and Ningxiang pigs), three western breeds (Yorkshire, Landrace and Duroc) and one hybrid (Tongcheng×Duroc). A total of 348 CNV Regions (CNVRs) across genome were identified, covering 150.49 Mb of the pig genome or 6.14% of the autosomal genome sequence. In these CNVRs, 213 CNVRs were found to exist only in the six Chinese indigenous breeds, and 60 CNVRs only in the three western breeds. The characters of CNVs in four Chinese normal size breeds (Luchuan, Tongcheng and Laiwu pigs) and two minipig breeds (Bama and Wuzhishan pigs) were also analyzed in this study. Functional annotation suggested that these CNVRs possess a great variety of molecular function and may play important roles in phenotypic and production traits between Chinese and western breeds. Our results are important complementary to the CNV map in pig genome, which provide new information about the diversity of Chinese and western pig breeds, and facilitate further research on porcine genome CNVs.