Gene expression profiling of SIRT1, FoxO1, and PPARγ in backfat tissues and subcutaneous adipocytes of Lilu bulls

The temporal pattern of gene expression of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), forkhead box O1 (FoxO1), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) in differentiating bovine preadipocytes and in backfat tissue from Lilu bulls 12, 18, 24, and 30months old was investigated using real-time quantitative PCR; Carcass characteristics and adipocyte diameters were also measured. The upregulation of PPARγ and the downregulation of SIRT1 and FoxO1 were observed in the backfat tissue of Lilu cattle with increasing age. Moreover, the results showed that fat accumulation in Lilu cattle may primarily be related to an increase in mature fat cell numbers after 18months of age. The present study indicates SIRT1 may play an important role in the development of bovine adipose tissue in vivo. Although SIRT1, FoxO1, and PPARγ expression appeared to be nonlinear during the stages of preadipocyte differentiation, these genes play an important role during bovine adipocyte development in Lilu cattle.