Characterization of lipid metabolism-related genes in mouse fatty liver

Abstract

Objective To characterize the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes in the fatty liver of obese ob/ob mice.Methods Four 18-weeks old male ob/ob and 4 control mice were sacrificed after 16 h fasting.Their body mass,ratio of liver wet mass to body mass and liver triglyceride contents were examined.H-E staining and Oil red O staining were performed to observe the histological changes and lipid deposition of the liver.Real-time quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect mRNA expression of lipid metabolism-related genes in the liver.Results The body mass,ratio of liver wet mass to body mass and liver triglyceride contents were significantly higher in ob/ob mice than those in control mice(P0.05).H-E staining and Oil red O staining showed severe hepatic steatosis in the ob/ob mice.The mRNA levels of fatty acid translocase(CD36),fatty acid binding protein 1(FABP1),fatty acid synthase(FASN),acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1(ACC 1),elongation of very long chain fatty acids family member 6(ELOVL6) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1(SCD1) were significantly higher in ob/ob mice than those in control mice(P0.05);and there were no significant differences in the mRNA levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α(PPARα), palmitoyl-CoA oxidase(ACOX1), apoprotein B(ApoB) or microsomal triglyceride transfer protein(MTP) between the two groups(P0.05).Conclusion The genes closely related to fatty acid uptake and de novo fatty acid synthesis are up-regulated in ob/ob liver,and those related to fatty acid oxidation and lipid transportation and VLDL secretion are not greatly affected at mRNA level.