Understanding the molecular aspects of oriental obesity pattern differentiation using DNA microarray.

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Personalized Medicine
• Oriental Medicine

Background:

• Human constitution in oriental medicine categorizes individuals based on physical, physiological, and clinical traits.
• Obesity is classified into six patterns in oriental medicine, including spleen deficiency, phlegm fluid, yang deficiency syndrome (YDS), food accumulation syndrome (FAS), liver depression syndrome (LDS), and blood stasis syndrome.
• Personalized treatment in oriental medicine is based on identifying individual obesity patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate obesity patterns in oriental medicine from a genomic perspective.
• To determine the gene expression signatures of obese patients using peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Main Methods:

• The study included 23 South Korean obese subjects (BMI ≥25 kg/m²).
• Obesity patterns were identified using a questionnaire and software-guided evaluation.
• Gene expression profiles were analyzed using DNA microarray and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).

Main Results:

• Gene clustering revealed disease pattern-specific gene expression upregulation in FAS, LDS, and YDS subjects.
• Specific genes, including prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 2 and interleukin 8 receptor, alpha, were highly expressed in LDS obesity.
• Quantitative real-time PCR confirmed the upregulation of selected genes in LDS obesity.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a genomic basis for understanding obesity pattern differentiation in oriental medicine.
• Further research can integrate genomic and oriental empirical approaches for personalized medicine development.
• This research contributes to understanding the genomic underpinnings of traditional obesity classifications.