Effects of RXRalpha gene silencing on the porcine adipocyte differentiation in vitro

The elucidation of the molecular mechanism of porcine adipocyte differentiation is important not only to domestic animal industry, but also to medical science because of the similarities in the trait of body lipid deposition between human and pigs. In this study, we investigated the roles of RXRalpha in porcine (Sus scrofa) adipocyte differentiation by using RNAi method and primary cultured porcine adipocytes. With the transfection of RXRalpha-siRNA, the gene and protein expressions of RXRalpha were successfully inhibited in differentiating porcine adipocytes. By the RXRalpha gene silencing, the adipocyte differentiation, as characterized by lipid accumulation and GPDH activity, was suppressed. Furthermore, in association with the decrease in RXRalpha gene expression level, PPARgamma and C/EBPalpha genes expression level also decreased, suggesting that RXRalpha is involved in their expression. Thus, our study clearly demonstrated the pivotal roles of RXRalpha in porcine adipocyte differentiation.