Title:Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Profiling of Chicken Adipose Tissue: Dual Purpose Benefit for Human Obesity and Poultry Production
Volume: 6
Issue: 2
Author(s): Ronique C. Beckford, Eric D. Tague, Shawn R. Campagna and Brynn H. Voy*
Affiliation:
- Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN,United States
Keywords:
Adipose tissue, microarray, obesity, domestic chickens, transcriptomic, profiling.
Abstract: Background: Domestic chickens are a valuable yet underutilized set of model organisms for
studies relevant to human obesity and adipose metabolism. Chickens and humans share similarities in
adipose tissue lipid metabolism, and the in ovo development of the chick enables studies of adipose
development that are difficult to perform in other organisms. Transcriptomic and metabolomic studies
have begun to characterize adipose metabolism in this model organism and provide important insight
into mechanisms that control adipose deposition and of leanness.
Methods: Recent studies that have used transcriptomics and metabolomics to understand mechanisms
that control fat mass in chickens are reviewed.
Results: Genetically distinct pairs of relatively lean and fat lines of chickens have been compared
through transcriptomics and metabolomics. Despite differences in genetic background and in the
means used to select for divergent fatness, some common metabolic pathways have been found to
regulate adipose deposition in these studies.
Conclusion: Mechanisms that are implicated in these studies provide valuable insight into adipose tissue
expansion and highlight the utility of chickens as a model for studies of obesity.
