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Updated: Mar 1, 2026
Analysis of Hematopoietic Stem Progenitor Cell Metabolism
Published on: November 9, 2019
Transcriptome analysis in blood cells from children reveals potential early biomarkers of metabolic alterations
J Sánchez1, C Picó1, W Ahrens2,3
1Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology (Nutrigenomics), University of the Balearic Islands and CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
Insights
Researchers identified novel blood-cell gene expression biomarkers to detect early signs of metabolic issues in children. This discovery aids in preventing childhood obesity and related health complications.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
- Metabolomics
Background:
- Childhood obesity and its comorbidities necessitate early detection through reliable biomarkers.
- Identifying transcript-based biomarkers in peripheral blood cells can predict metabolic alterations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify potential transcript-based biomarkers in blood cells for early detection of unhealthy metabolic profiles in overweight/obese children.
- To discover novel biomarkers predictive of metabolic complications associated with childhood obesity.
Main Methods:
- Whole-genome microarray analysis was conducted on blood cells from overweight and normal-weight children.
- Differential gene expression analysis was performed to identify key genes and pathways.
Main Results:
- Downregulation of oxidative phosphorylation genes was observed in overweight children.
- Genes involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism (e.g., TCF7L2, ADRB3, LIPE, GIPR) were identified.
- A specific set of differentially expressed genes could distinguish between high and low triglyceride levels in overweight children.
Conclusions:
- Functional microarray analysis revealed potential blood-cell transcript-based biomarkers.
- These biomarkers may facilitate the early identification of children predisposed to obesity-related metabolic alterations.
Objectives:
The development of effective strategies to prevent childhood obesity and its comorbidities requires new, reliable early biomarkers. Here, we aimed to identify in peripheral blood cells potential transcript-based biomarkers of unhealthy metabolic profile associated to overweight/obesity in children.
Methods:
We performed a whole-genome microarray analysis in blood cells to identify genes differentially expressed between overweight and normal weight children to obtain novel transcript-based biomarkers predictive of metabolic complications.
Results:
The most significant enriched pathway of differentially expressed genes was related to oxidative phosphorylation, for which most of genes were downregulated in overweight versus normal weight children. Other genes were involved in carbohydrate metabolism/glucose homoeostasis or in lipid metabolism (for example, TCF7L2, ADRB3, LIPE, GIPR), revealing plausible mechanisms according to existing biological knowledge. A set of differentially expressed genes was identified to discriminate in overweight children those with high or low triglyceride levels.
Conclusions:
Functional microarray analysis has revealed a set of potential blood-cell transcript-based biomarkers that may be a useful approach for early identification of children with higher predisposition to obesity-related metabolic alterations.
