Institute of Clinical Research, Centre for Reproduction and Early Life, University Hospital, Nottingham NG72UH, UK.
Reproduction. 2009 Sep;138(3):609-17. doi: 10.1530/REP-08-0445. Epub 2009 Jun 5.
Epidemiological studies suggest that low-birth weight infants show poor neonatal growth and increased susceptibility to metabolic syndrome, in particular, obesity and diabetes. Adipose tissue development is regulated by many genes, including members of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) and the fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) families. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of birth weight on key adipose and skeletal muscle tissue regulating genes. Piglets from 11 litters were ranked according to birth weight and 3 from each litter assigned to small, normal, or large-birth weight groups. Tissue samples were collected on day 7 or 14. Plasma metabolite concentrations and the expression of PPARG2, PPARA, FABP3, and FABP4 genes were determined in subcutaneous adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. Adipocyte number and area were determined histologically. Expression of FABP3 and 4 was significantly reduced in small and large, compared with normal, piglets in adipose tissue on day 7 and in skeletal muscle on day 14. On day 7, PPARA and PPARG2 were significantly reduced in adipose tissue from small and large piglets. Adipose tissue from small piglets contained more adipocytes than normal or large piglets. Birth weight had no effect on adipose tissue and skeletal muscle lipid content. Low-birth weight is associated with tissue-specific and time-dependent effects on lipid-regulating genes as well as morphological changes in adipose tissue. It remains to be seen whether these developmental changes alter an individual's susceptibility to metabolic syndrome.
流行病学研究表明，低出生体重婴儿表现出较差的新生儿生长和增加代谢综合征的易感性，特别是肥胖和糖尿病。脂肪组织的发育受许多基因的调节，包括过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体（PPAR）和脂肪酸结合蛋白（FABP）家族的成员。本研究旨在确定出生体重对关键脂肪和骨骼肌组织调节基因的影响。根据出生体重对 11 窝仔猪进行排序，每窝 3 头仔猪被分配到小、正常或大出生体重组。在第 7 天或第 14 天收集组织样本。在皮下脂肪组织和骨骼肌中测定血浆代谢物浓度和 PPARG2、PPARA、FABP3 和 FABP4 基因的表达。通过组织学方法确定脂肪细胞数量和面积。在第 7 天，与正常仔猪相比，小和大仔猪的 FABP3 和 FABP4 在脂肪组织中的表达显著降低，而在第 14 天在骨骼肌中降低。在第 7 天，小和大仔猪的脂肪组织中 PPARA 和 PPARG2 显著降低。小仔猪的脂肪组织中含有比正常或大仔猪更多的脂肪细胞。出生体重对脂肪组织和骨骼肌的脂质含量没有影响。低出生体重与脂质调节基因的组织特异性和时间依赖性效应以及脂肪组织的形态变化有关。这些发育变化是否会改变个体患代谢综合征的易感性还有待观察。
