Hepatic gene expression profiles during fed-fasted-refed state in mice.

Area of Science:

• Metabolomics and Genomics
• Molecular Biology
• Nutrient Metabolism

Background:

• Nutrient status regulation is crucial for liver metabolic homeostasis.
• The Fed-Fast-Refed cycle significantly impacts liver physiology.
• Understanding these dynamic changes is vital for metabolic health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of the Fed-Fast-Refed cycle on hepatic gene expression.
• To identify dynamic alterations in mRNA and miRNA expression during nutrient transitions.
• To characterize molecular regulatory networks involved in liver metabolism.

Main Methods:

• Transcriptomic analysis using mRNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) and miRNA-Seq in mouse liver.
• Comparison of gene expression between fed, fasted, and refed states.
• Construction of protein-protein interaction and miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks.

Main Results:

• Dozens of mRNAs and miRNAs were dysregulated during nutrient transitions.
• Shared regulatory pathways, particularly for lipid and protein metabolism, were identified.
• Specific mRNA and miRNA clusters, along with miRNA-mRNA-pathway interactions, were pinpointed.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a molecular characterization of the Fed-Fast-Refed cycle in the liver.
• Identified regulatory networks offer insights into metabolic homeostasis.
• Data serves as a resource for understanding liver metabolic responses to nutrient availability.