| dc.description.abstract | During the past 20 years, there has been a significant increase in the number of individuals developing type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Evidence from several studies indicates that obesity and weight gain (increase in white adipose tissue) are associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes. Current treatments to combat this epidemic involve the reduction in white adipose tissue (WAT). Previously we proposed that the forced expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), normally part of the thermogenic mechanisms found in brown adipose tissue (BAT), can be used to reduce accumulation of triglycerides in white adipocytes, and thereby regulate body fat mass. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of forced UCP1 expression on global changes in energy metabolism in white adipocytes. Specifically, we used DNA microarrays to characterize the changes in white adipocyte gene expression upon UCP1 expression and determine the extent to which UCP1 expressing white adipocytes emulate brown adipocytes. Murine 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, either expressing UCP1 or control (i.e., no UCP1) were cultured to confluence. On day 2 post confluence, the preadipocytes were induced to differentiate using a standard adipogenic cocktail consisting of insulin, isobutylmetyhylxanthine (IBMX), and dexamethasone (DEX). At 10 days post-isolation, total RNA was isolated and the transcript levels profiled using the Codelink microarray system (Agilent, CA). | en |
