Project description:MicroRNAs are a class of molecular regulators found to participate in numerous biological processes, including adipogenesis. However, whether dietary changes impact on microRNA (miRNA) in ruminants has not been reported. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the dietary effect on miRNA expression in subcutaneous (backfat) and visceral fat depots (perirenal fat) from beef steers fed with different diets containing high or low fat levels. Fat tissues were collected from 16 Hereford x Aberdeen Angus cross bred steers (15.5 month old) fed high fat diet (5.85% fat, n=8) or control diet (1.95% fat, n=8). Total RNA from each animal was subjected to miRNA microarray analysis using a customized Agilent miRNA microarray containing 672 bovine miRNA probes. Expression of miRNAs was not equally detected under two diets; 169 miRNAs were commonly expressed while 75 were diet specific. The number of miRNAs detected per animal under high fat diet was higher than those fed control diet (p= 0.037 in subcutaneous fat and p= 0.002 in visceral fat).. Further qRT-PCR analysis confirmed that the expression of some miRNAs was highly influenced by diet (miR-19a, -92a, -92b, -101, -103, -106, -142-5p, and 296) or fat depot (miR-196a and -2454). Our results revealed that the miRNA expression can be influenced by types of fat tissues or diet, suggesting that miRNAs may regulate bovine adipogenesis when diet alters. In this study, a total of 32 adipose tissue samples were analyzed by microRNA microarrays, being 16 subcutaneus (backfat) and 16 visceral (perirenal fat) fat depots were collected from 16 animals (Control diet = 8) (High fat diet = 8).
Project description:MicroRNAs are a class of molecular regulators found to participate in numerous biological processes, including adipogenesis. However, whether dietary changes impact on microRNA (miRNA) in ruminants has not been reported. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the dietary effect on miRNA expression in subcutaneous (backfat) and visceral fat depots (perirenal fat) from beef steers fed with different diets containing high or low fat levels. Fat tissues were collected from 16 Hereford x Aberdeen Angus cross bred steers (15.5 month old) fed high fat diet (5.85% fat, n=8) or control diet (1.95% fat, n=8). Total RNA from each animal was subjected to miRNA microarray analysis using a customized Agilent miRNA microarray containing 672 bovine miRNA probes. Expression of miRNAs was not equally detected under two diets; 169 miRNAs were commonly expressed while 75 were diet specific. The number of miRNAs detected per animal under high fat diet was higher than those fed control diet (p= 0.037 in subcutaneous fat and p= 0.002 in visceral fat).. Further qRT-PCR analysis confirmed that the expression of some miRNAs was highly influenced by diet (miR-19a, -92a, -92b, -101, -103, -106, -142-5p, and 296) or fat depot (miR-196a and -2454). Our results revealed that the miRNA expression can be influenced by types of fat tissues or diet, suggesting that miRNAs may regulate bovine adipogenesis when diet alters.
Project description:The objective of this project is identifying differentially expressed (DE) genes which are associated with higher omega-3 fatty acids deposition in beef cows. Omega-3 fatty acids have been found to influence meat flavor and are beneficial to human health. Supplementation of livestock diets with flaxseed, a rich source of ë±-linolenic acid, is the most common means of producing omega-3 fatty acid-enriched animal products. Towards the goal of enhancing beef fatty acid composition, 64 crossbred cull cows (~30 months of age) with similar breed composition were randomized by weight/body condition, and fed one of four 50:50 forage:concentrate diets on a DM basis (16 cows/treatment), containing ground barley grain with either hay or silage, supplemented with 0 or 15% ground flaxseed (DM basis). Cows were slaughtered after spending 140 days on the treatment diets. Five cows from each of the four diets were selected for transcriptional analysis based on FA profiles of the kidney fat collected at slaughter. RNA was isolated from Longissimus thoracis muscle, subcutaneous and kidney fat of each cow (20 samples/tissue) and hybridized in duplicate to BOMC 24K 60-mer microarrays. Differential gene expression between flax-fed and non-flax-fed cows as well as identifying those genes associated with fatty acid metabolism were studied.
Project description:Abstract Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is closely associated with obesity through risk factors such as dyslipidemia and chronic low-grade inflammation, which may be affected by diet. Dietary fats have been extensively studied in relation to CVD risk, however these studies have not always yielded consistent results, most likely due to lack in control of experimental conditions and confounding factors. Here we studied the effects of different plant and animal fats on dyslipidemia, inflammation and atherosclerosis. Ldlr-/-.Leiden mice were fed isocaloric energy-dense diets with translational macronutrient composition for 28 weeks. The diets were identical apart from the type of fat they contained: either 1) a mixture of olive and rapeseed oil; 2) sunflower oil; 3) pork fat; 4) beef fat; or 5) milk fat. The fatty acid composition of the diets was determined and effects on circulating lipid and inflammatory risk factors and atherosclerosis were examined, complemented by adipose tissue histology and liver transcriptomics. While visceral fat mass, adipocyte size and adipose tissue inflammation were not differentially affected by the diets, atherosclerotic lesion load and severity was more pronounced with increasing dietary saturated fatty acid content and decreasing monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid content, and hence most pronounced with beef and milk fat. These differential effects were accompanied by increases in pro-atherogenic plasma lipids/lipoproteins (e.g., triglycerides, apolipoprotein B), activation of pro-atherogenic cytokine/chemokine signaling pathways in liver, and with circulating pro-atherogenic mediators of inflammation altogether providing a rationale for the differential effects of plant and animal fats.