Delayed body development with reduced triglycerides levels in leptin transgenic pigs
Yubo Qing1,2,3, Muhammad Ameen Jamal1,2,4, Dejia Shi1,2,4
1Key Laboratory of Animal Gene Editing and Animal Cloning in Yunnan Province, Kunming, 650201, China.
Transgenic Research
|November 6, 2021
Summary
Overexpressing leptin in pigs resulted in sluggish growth and reduced fat deposition. This suggests an imbalance in lipolysis and lipogenesis, making these pigs a model for obesity and metabolic disorders.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic research
- Animal models
- Adipose tissue biology
Background:
- Leptin is a key adipokine regulating body weight and metabolism.
- Understanding leptin's role in adiposity is crucial for metabolic disorder research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of leptin overexpression on growth, fat deposition, and lipid metabolism in pigs.
- To establish a transgenic pig model for studying obesity and related metabolic disorders.
Main Methods:
- Generated leptin-overexpressing (leptin (+)) and control transgenic pigs.
- Analyzed growth, subcutaneous fat thickness, serum lipid profiles, and gene expression in adipose tissues.
- Cultured leptin (+) preadipocytes for in-vitro analysis of lipid metabolism.
Main Results:
- Leptin (+) pigs showed sluggish growth, decreased subcutaneous fat, low serum triglycerides, and altered fatty acid profiles.
- Significant changes in lipid metabolism gene expression (e.g., PPARγ, AGPAT6, PLIN2, HSL, ATGL, FAT/CD36) were observed in various fat depots.
- In-vitro studies revealed upregulation of key lipogenic and lipolytic genes in leptin (+) preadipocytes.
Conclusions:
- Homeostasis imbalance in lipolysis and lipogenesis contributes to reduced subcutaneous fat in leptin-overexpressing pigs.
- Leptin transgenic pigs serve as a valuable model for investigating obesity and associated metabolic conditions.
