Authors : Gebin Li, Peter Lee, Ichiro Yamamoto, Nobuko Mori and Toshiro Arai
Abstract: Peripheral Blood Leukocytes (PBL) continually interact with virtually every organ and tissue in the whole body. A remarkable concordance (80%) of gene expression profiles between peripheral blood mononuclear cells and different tissues has been previously demonstrated in humans. As such, gene expression responses of circulating PBL can therefore, potentially provide early warning of any abnormalities they discover. Weight alterations (increase or decrease) when associated with obesity has been reported to lead to alterations to PBL gene expression, especially those related to insulin and adiponectin signaling genes and even genes involved with energy homeostasis. As such, a pilot study involving PBL profiles of the following genes involved in energy homoestasis (5’ Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK)-α1 and 2, -β1 and 2 and -γ1 and 2); Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and Malate Dehydrogenase (MDH), lipogenesis (Fatty Acid Synthase (FAS) and insulin signaling Adiponectin Receptor (ADIPOR) (-1 and 2); Insulin Receptor Substrates (IRS) (-1 and 2); Phosphatidylinositol-3 Kinase (PI3-K) were evaluated between lean and overweight dogs in an attempt to identify possible PBL biomarkers for assessing obesity in dogs. As compared to lean dogs, overweight dog PBL demonstrated reduced mRNA expression of IRS-1, IRS-2, FAS, G6PDH and AMPK β1 genes. Overall, these findings suggest that dysregulation of energy metabolism, associated with obesity in overweight dogs may carry over with alterations in PBL gene expression of genes involved in energy homeostasis and sterol metabolism. As such, PBL gene expression profiles may aid in early detection of PBL biomarkers for assessing obesity in dogs.
Gebin Li, Peter Lee, Ichiro Yamamoto, Nobuko Mori and Toshiro Arai, 2013. Pilot Study to Determine Peripheral Blood Leukocyte mRNA Expression Profile of Energy Homeostasis Genes to Identify Potential Predictive Biomarkers of Obesity in Dogs. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 12: 69-75.