Thymine DNA Glycosylase Gene Knockdown Can Affect the Differentiation of Pig Preadipocytes

Abstract

Aims: To study the effect of thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) gene knockdown on the differentiation of pig preadipocytes. Methods: Preadipocytes were obtained from subcutaneous adipose tissue from the neck of 1- to 7-day-old pigs. The TDG gene was knocked down using siRNA, and cell differentiation was induced. The mRNA expression level was measured using fluorescence quantitative PCR, and the protein expression level was determined using Western blot analysis. The DNA methylation levels in promoter regions of differentiation-related genes were also evaluated. Results: TDG gene knockdown decreased the mRNA expression levels of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ (PPARγ) and Fatty acid binding proteins 4(FABP4 Also known as aP2) genes (PP>0.05). In addition, after induced differentiation, the lipid droplet production significantly decreased, and the percentages of methylation in the promoter regions of C/EBPα, PPARγ, and aP2 genes were 0.9%, 80%, and 76%, respectively. In contrast, the percentages of methylation in the negative control groups were 0.5%, 67.5%, and 58%, respectively. Conclusion: TDG gene knockdown could inhibit the differentiation of pig preadipocytes and affect the DNA methylation levels of some transcription factors.

Keywords

• Pig
• Preadipocyte differentiation
• Promoter methylation
• TDG gene knockdown