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Transcriptomic characterization of the long-term dihydrotestosterone effects in adipose tissue
Carl Bolduc1, Mayumi Yoshioka, Jonny St-Amand
1Functional Genomics Laboratory, Molecular Endocrinology and Oncology Research Center, Laval University Medical Center, 2705 Boulevard Laurier, Quebec City, Quebec, G1V 4G2 Canada.
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)
|May 15, 2007
Summary
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) treatment in mice alters adipose tissue gene expression, down-regulating fat synthesis and up-regulating fat breakdown. This suggests androgens may improve metabolic health by influencing key adipose tissue pathways.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
- Metabolic Research
Background:
- Sexual hormones, particularly androgens like dihydrotestosterone (DHT), play a role in regulating fat distribution.
- The precise impact of androgens on intra-abdominal fat accumulation remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term transcriptomic effects of DHT on adipose tissue.
- To determine whether androgens promote or reduce intra-abdominal fat accumulation.
Main Methods:
- Retroperitoneal adipose tissue was collected from gonadectomized male mice treated with vehicle or DHT for 21 days.
- Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) was employed to analyze approximately 150,000 SAGE tags per sample.
Main Results:
- DHT down-regulated transcripts involved in glycolysis and lipogenesis (e.g., aldolase 1 A, pyruvate kinase muscle, malic enzyme, ELOVL family member 6).
- DHT up-regulated transcripts associated with lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation (e.g., carboxylesterase 3, acetyl-coenzyme A acyltransferase 1, 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase B, enoyl-coenzyme A hydratase/3-hydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase).
- DHT increased pro-apoptotic transcripts (e.g., DFFA-like effector c, NIP3) and decreased cell cycle promoting transcripts (e.g., cyclin D2).
Conclusions:
- Chronic androgen treatment, exemplified by DHT, may enhance metabolic profile through regulation of adipose tissue physiology.
- DHT treatment up-regulated genes linked to a healthier metabolic profile, including adiponectin and CD36 antigen.
