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lncRNA profiling to elucidate the metabolic mechanism of green tea extract on weight loss in mice
Abstract
Purpose: To understand the effects of green tea extract on weight loss at the gene level using long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression profiles.
Methods: lncRNA expression signatures in rats fed two different diets were determined by analyzing previously published gene expression profiles in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). The lncRNAs specific to rats in a particular dietary group were confirmed using an additional autonomous dataset. LncRNA expression profiles were compared to explore the underlying mechanisms of green tea extract on weight loss.
Results: Three lncRNAs (Gm38399, F730035P03Rik, and 5033430I15Rik) that may be the targets of green tea and that may play crucial roles in the lipid-lowering effects of green tea were identified. Using functional annotation databases, two of the targets of two of the lncRNAs were identified as Nav1 and Atxn1.
Conclusion: Based on annotation databases, green tea extract may affect metabolic processes in adipocytes by regulating the lncRNAs GM38399 and 5033430I15Rik that modulate their cis-regulatory target genes Nav1 and Atxn1, respectively. Nav1 and Atxn1 may then regulate trans-regulatory lncRNAs.