Transcriptome and Cellular Evidence of Depot-Specific Function in Beef Cattle Intramuscular, Subcutaneous, and...

Deposition of intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) is the primary determinant for beef quality grade in the U.S. Accumulation of subcutaneous (SCAT) and visceral (VIAT) adipose tissue precedes that of IMAT and often leads to excessive adiposity in beef cattle. Approaches to increase marbling while limiting subcutaneous and visceral adiposity are limited. Our objective is to define the depot-specific transcriptome profile and adipocyte function in IMAT, SCAT, and VIAT in beef steers. Transcriptomics revealed the upregulation of adipogenic and lipogenic genes in SCAT and VIAT vs. IMAT. Functional transcriptome analysis demonstrated the activation of pathways for lipid metabolic processes and biosynthesis in SCAT, accompanied by increased preadipocyte proliferation, adipocyte size, and insulin responses of SCAT in vitro. While IMAT had a greater abundance of preadipocytes, they proliferated at a lower rate and differentiated into adipocytes that were smaller and less responsive to insulin compared to SCAT. The upregulation of extracellular matrix genes in IMAT suggests that fat accumulation may be limited by the muscle microenvironment. The activation of inflammatory and immune response pathways, combined with a higher abundance of immune cells, highlighted VIAT as an immune-responsive depot. Our findings reveal transcriptional and cellular profiles underlying fat deposition in SCAT, VIAT, and IMAT in beef cattle.