Mechanisms
Diet-induced metabolic syndrome triggers 1396 differentially expressed adipose transcripts, revealing immune and remodeling gene signatures in CETP-humanised mice (Genomics 2020)
Original title: Transcriptome analysis of the adipose tissue in a mouse model of metabolic syndrome identifies gene signatures related to disease pathogenesis
White adipose tissue (WAT) contributes to metabolic imbalance in obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) through mechanisms that remain poorly understood. ApoE3L.CETP mice, a humanised model expressing human cholesteryl ester transfer protein, were fed a high-fat or low-fat diet for different periods, and epididymal WAT RNA was analysed by microarray. The number of differentially expressed transcripts increased as MetS developed, reaching 1396 transcripts in mice with MetS, including genes related to immune and inflammatory responses and extracellular matrix enzymes, indicating inflammation and tissue remodeling. The most enriched pathways included focal adhesion, chemokine, B and T cell receptor, and MAPK signalling. The authors report the first characterization of adipose gene signatures in ApoE3L.CETP mice with diet-induced MetS.
Original abstract
The white adipose tissue (WAT) contributes to the metabolic imbalance observed in obesity and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) by mechanisms that are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to monitor changes in the transcriptome of epididymal WAT during the development of MetS. ApoE3L.CETP mice were fed a high fat (HFD) or a low-fat (LFD) diet for different time periods. Adipose RNA was analyzed by microarrays. We found an increasing number of differentially expressed transcripts during MetS development. In mice with MetS, 1396 transcripts were differentially expressed including transcripts related to immune/inflammatory responses and extracellular matrix enzymes, suggesting significant inflammation and tissue remodeling. The top list of pathways included focal adhesion, chemokine, B and T cell receptor and MAPK signaling. The data identify for the first time adipose gene signatures in apoE3L.CETP mice with diet-induced MetS and might open new avenues for investigation of potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.