Transcriptional profiling of subcutaneous adipose tissue in Italian Large White pigs divergent for backfat thickness

Abstract

Fat deposition is a widely studied trait in pigs because of its implications with animal growth efficiency, technological and nutritional characteristics of meat products, but the global framework of the biological and molecular processes regulating fat deposition in pigs is still incomplete. This study describes the backfat tissue transcription profile in Italian Large White pigs and reports genes differentially expressed between fat and lean animals according to RNA-seq data. The backfat transcription profile was characterised by the expression of 23 483 genes, of which 54.1% were represented by known genes. Of 63 418 expressed transcripts, about 80% were non-previously annotated isoforms. By comparing the expression level of fat vs. lean pigs, we detected 86 robust differentially expressed transcripts, 72 more highly expressed (e.g. ACP5, BCL2A1, CCR1, CD163, CD1A, EGR2, ENPP1, GPNMB, INHBB, LYZ, MSR1, OLR1, PIK3AP1, PLIN2, SPP1, SLC11A1, STC1) and 14 lower expressed (e.g. ADSSL1, CDO1, DNAJB1, HSPA1A, HSPA1B, HSPA2, HSPB8, IGFBP5, OLFML3) in fat pigs. The main functional categories enriched in differentially expressed genes were immune system process, response to stimulus, cell activation and skeletal system development, for the overexpressed genes, and unfolded protein binding and stress response, for the underexpressed genes, which included five heat shock proteins. Adipose tissue alterations and impaired stress response are linked to inflammation and, in turn, to adipose tissue secretory activity, similar to what is observed in human obesity. Our results provide the opportunity to identify biomarkers of carcass fat traits to improve the pig production chain and to identify genetic factors that regulate the observed differential expression.

Global transcriptome analysis identifies differentially expressed genes related to lipid metabolism in Wagyu and Holstein cattle

“…It can be seen that PLIN2 plays an important role in fat deposition and maintenance. In the present study, PLIN2 mRNA was highly expressed in Wagyu subcutaneous fat, which was consistent with these results, that PLIN2 mRNA was up-regulated in Hereford × Aberdeen Angus cattle (fat-type) 38 , and pig with thicker backfat 39 , which indicates PLIN2 expression may be positively correlated with backfat thickness various livestock. Besides, there is a high level of PLIN2 mRNA in intramuscular fat of Wagyu cattle compared with Holstein cattle 21 .…”

Identification of differentially expressed small RNAs and prediction of target genes in Italian Large White pigs with divergent backfat deposition

“…For this analysis, we used 18 of the Italian Large White pigs and the backfat samples collected and described by Zambonelli et al . (). All animals used in this study were kept according to Italian and European laws for pig production, and all the adopted procedures were fully compliant with national and European Union regulations for animal care and slaughtering.…”

“…RNA‐seq was recently used to study transcriptome variations in backfat tissue, comparing two groups of Italian Large White pigs divergent for backfat deposition and providing a deeper knowledge of the molecular processes regulating the potential of fat deposition in pigs (Zambonelli et al . ), which is essential for identifying key genes and markers for the genetic improvement of fat traits.…”

Comparative transcriptome analysis of Ethiopian indigenous chickens from low and high altitudes under heat stress condition reveals differential immune response

“…; Zambonelli et al . ). The reads mapped to each gene were calculated and normalized to FPKM to estimate the gene expression levels.…”