Altered MicroRNA Expression in Bovine Subcutaneous and Visceral Adipose Tissues from Cattle under Different Diet

Josue Moura Romao,Maolong He,Tim Mcallister,Weiwu Jin,Le Luo Guan,A Aziz Aboobaker

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0040605

Josue Moura Romao, Maolong He + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0040605

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Journal: PLoS ONE	Publication Date: Jul 10, 2012
Citations: 101	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, University of Alberta

Abstract

BackgroundMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of molecular regulators found to participate in numerous biological processes, including adipogenesis in mammals. This study aimed to evaluate the differences of miRNA expression between bovine subcutaneous (backfat) and visceral fat depots (perirenal fat) and the dietary effect on miRNA expression in these fat tissues.Methodology/Principal FindingsFat tissues were collected from 16 Hereford×Aberdeen Angus cross bred steers (15.5 month old) fed a high-fat diet (5.85% fat, n = 8) or control diet (1.95% fat, n = 8). Total RNA from each animal was subjected to miRNA microarray analysis using a customized Agilent miRNA microarray containing 672 bovine miRNA probes. Expression of miRNAs was not equal between fat depots as well as diets: 207 miRNAs were detected in both fat depots, while 37 of these were found to be tissue specific; and 169 miRNAs were commonly expressed under two diets while 75 were diet specific. The number of miRNAs detected per animal fed the high fat diet was higher than those fed control diet (p = 0.037 in subcutaneous fat and p = 0.002 visceral fat). Further qRT-PCR analysis confirmed that the expression of some miRNAs was highly influenced by diet (miR-19a, -92a, -92b, -101, -103, -106, -142–5p, and 296) or fat depot (miR-196a and -2454).Conclusions/SignificanceOur results revealed that the miRNA may differ among adipose depots and level of fat in the diet, suggesting that miRNAs may play a role in the regulation of bovine adipogenesis.

Highlights

Adipose tissue is dynamic, with its fundamental activity in the regulation of energy balance, and its role in endocrine function becoming increasingly evident [1,2]
Conclusions/Significance: Our results revealed that the miRNA may differ among adipose depots and level of fat in the diet, suggesting that miRNAs may play a role in the regulation of bovine adipogenesis
Steers fed the high fat diet (5.85%) in the present study had higher weight gain and improved feed efficiency compared to those fed the control diet, with some of these differences likely being attributable to differences in adipose metabolism as suggested by changes in carcass cutability, backfat thickness and adipocyte size

Summary

Introduction

With its fundamental activity in the regulation of energy balance, and its role in endocrine function becoming increasingly evident [1,2]. A class of gene regulators known as microRNAs (miRNAs) have been discovered to regulate gene expression in many biological processes including embryo development, differentiation, apoptosis, and metabolism in animals [9,10,11] These molecules are small non-coding RNAs with approximately 22 nucleotides that are able to repress gene expression, by binding to messenger RNAs in a sequence-specific manner [12]. MiRNAs have been shown to be differentially expressed in bovine adipose tissue with the expression of mir-378 expression varying with thickness of subcutaneous fat [21] This miRNA is differentially expressed in murine adipocytes during differentiation [22] and its pro-adipogenic activity is possibly through regulation of two tumour suppressor genes, SUFU and FUS-1 genes [23]. This study aimed to evaluate the differences of miRNA expression between bovine subcutaneous (backfat) and visceral fat depots (perirenal fat) and the dietary effect on miRNA expression in these fat tissues

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