Evidence for a role of developmental genes in the origin of obesity and body fat distribution.

ABSTRACT: Obesity, especially central obesity, is a hereditable trait associated with a high risk for development of diabetes and metabolic disorders. Combined gene expression analysis of adipocyte- and preadipocyte-containing fractions from intraabdominal and subcutaneous adipose tissue of mice revealed coordinated depot-specific differences in expression of multiple genes involved in embryonic development and pattern specification. These differences were intrinsic and persisted during in vitro culture and differentiation. Similar depot-specific differences in expression of developmental genes were observed in human subcutaneous versus visceral adipose tissue. Furthermore, in humans, several genes exhibited changes in expression that correlated closely with body mass index and/or waist/hip ratio. T

SUBMITTER: Gesta S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1458940 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature