Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-coactivator 1-beta (PGC-1β) modulates the expression of genes involved in adipogenesis during preadipocyte differentiation in chicken.

To study the influence of the PGC-1β gene on chicken adipocyte proliferation and differentiation, we constructed RNA interference (RNAi) vectors that target the PGC-1β gene and transfected these vectors into adipocytes. Oil Red O staining and a CCK-8 cell kit were used to determine cell triglyceride accumulation status and cell proliferation after transfection, respectively. The mRNA abundances of PGC-1β and adipocyte-differentiation-related genes (PPARγ, C/EBPα, SREBP-1c, FAS, and A-FABP) were detected by real-time PCR. The results showed that the mRNA and protein abundances of PGC-1β in PGC-1β-shRNA transfected adipocytes were significantly lower than those in the control. Interference decreased cell differentiation, but did not depress the cell proliferation. PGC-1β interference impeded the triglyceride accumulation, the mRNA expression levels of nuclear receptors PPARγ and SREBP-1c, and fatty acid synthetase (FAS), and both proteins PPARγ and SREBP-1c, and the fatty acids transporting protein A-FABP. Generally, PGC-1β modulated the cell differentiation and triglyceride accumulation in chicken adipocytes.