The POWER of a Healthier Tomorrow

poster abstractThe Pediatric OverWeight Education and Research Program aims to improve the health of obese children (ages 2-18) and decrease the risks associated with obesity through a high quality, multilevel and multidiscipline clinical program. Through the clinic and outreach in the community the POWER Program works to foster research in the area of pediatric obesity

Unraveling the role of lipid droplets and perilipin 2 in bovine luteal cells

Steroidogenic tissues contain cytosolic lipid droplets that are important for steroidogenesis. Perilipin 2 (PLIN2), a structural coat protein located on the surface of lipid droplets in mammalian cells, plays a crucial role in regulating lipid droplet formation and contributing to various cellular processes such as lipid storage and energy homeostasis. Herein, we examine the role that PLIN2 plays in regulating progesterone synthesis in the bovine corpus luteum. Utilizing gene array databases and Western blotting, we have delineated the expression pattern of PLIN2 throughout the follicular to luteal transition. Our findings reveal the presence of PLIN2 in both ovarian follicular and steroidogenic luteal cells, demonstrating an increase in its levels as follicular cells transition into the luteal phase. Moreover, the depletion of PLIN2 via siRNA enhanced progesterone production in small luteal cells, whereas adenovirus-mediated overexpression of both PLIN2 and Perilipin 3 (PLIN3) induced an increase in cytosolic lipid droplet accumulation and decreased hormone-induced progesterone synthesis in these cells. Lastly, in vivo administration of the luteolytic hormone prostaglandin F2α resulted in an upregulation of PLIN2 mRNA and protein expression, accompanied by a decline in serum progesterone. Our findings highlight the pivotal role of PLIN2 in regulating progesterone synthesis in the bovine corpus luteum, as supported by its dynamic expression pattern during the follicular to luteal transition and its responsiveness to luteotropic and luteolytic hormones. We suggest PLIN2 as a potential therapeutic target for modulating luteal function

Transcriptomic and bioinformatics analysis of the early time-course of the response to prostaglandin F2 alpha in the bovine corpus luteum

RNA expression analysis was performed on the corpus luteum tissue at five time points after prostaglandin F2 alpha treatment of midcycle cows using an Affymetrix Bovine Gene v1 Array. The normalized linear microarray data was uploaded to the NCBI GEO repository (GSE94069). Subsequent statistical analysis determined differentially expressed transcripts ± 1.5-fold change from saline control with P ≤ 0.05. Gene ontology of differentially expressed transcripts was annotated by DAVID and Panther. Physiological characteristics of the study animals are presented in a figure. Bioinformatic analysis by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis was curated, compiled, and presented in tables. A dataset comparison with similar microarray analyses was performed and bioinformatics analysis by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, DAVID, Panther, and String of differentially expressed genes from each dataset as well as the differentially expressed genes common to all three datasets were curated, compiled, and presented in tables. Finally, a table comparing four bioinformatics tools’ predictions of functions associated with genes common to all three datasets is presented. These data have been further analyzed and interpreted in the companion article “Early transcriptome responses of the bovine mid-cycle corpus luteum to prostaglandin F2 alpha includes cytokine signaling” [1]

Early transcriptome responses of the bovine midcycle corpus luteum to prostaglandin F2α includes cytokine signaling

In ruminants, prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2α)-mediated luteolysis is essential prior to estrous cycle resumption, and is a target for improving fertility. To deduce early PGF2α-provoked changes in the corpus luteum a short time-course (0.5-4 h) was performed on cows at midcycle. A microarraydetermined transcriptome was established and examined by bioinformatic pathway analysis. Classic PGF2α effects were evident by changes in early response genes (FOS, JUN, ATF3) and prediction of active pathways (PKC, MAPK). Several cytokine transcripts were elevated and NF-kB and STAT activation were predicted by pathway analysis. Self-organizing map analysis grouped differentially expressed transcripts into ten mRNA expression patterns indicative of temporal signaling cascades. Comparison with two analogous datasets revealed a conserved group of 124 transcripts similarly altered by PGF2α treatment, which both, directly and indirectly, indicated cytokine activation. Elevated levels of cytokine transcripts after PGF2α and predicted activation of cytokine pathways implicate inflammatory reactions early in PGF2α-mediated luteolysis

Transcriptomic and bioinformatics analysis of the early time-course of the response to prostaglandin F2 alpha in the bovine corpus luteum.

RNA expression analysis was performed on the corpus luteum tissue at five time points after prostaglandin F2 alpha treatment of midcycle cows using an Affymetrix Bovine Gene v1 Array. The normalized linear microarray data was uploaded to the NCBI GEO repository (GSE94069). Subsequent statistical analysis determined differentially expressed transcripts ± 1.5-fold change from saline control with P ≤ 0.05. Gene ontology of differentially expressed transcripts was annotated by DAVID and Panther. Physiological characteristics of the study animals are presented in a figure. Bioinformatic analysis by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis was curated, compiled, and presented in tables. A dataset comparison with similar microarray analyses was performed and bioinformatics analysis by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, DAVID, Panther, and String of differentially expressed genes from each dataset as well as the differentially expressed genes common to all three datasets were curated, compiled, and presented in tables. Finally, a table comparing four bioinformatics tools\u27 predictions of functions associated with genes common to all three datasets is presented. These data have been further analyzed and interpreted in the companion article Early transcriptome responses of the bovine mid-cycle corpus luteum to prostaglandin F2 alpha includes cytokine signaling [1]

Transcriptomic and bioinformatics analysis of the early time-course of the response to prostaglandin F2 alpha in the bovine corpus luteum

RNA expression analysis was performed on the corpus luteum tissue at five time points after prostaglandin F2 alpha treatment of midcycle cows using an Affymetrix Bovine Gene v1 Array. The normalized linear microarray data was uploaded to the NCBI GEO repository (GSE94069). Subsequent statistical analysis determined differentially expressed transcripts ± 1.5-fold change from saline control with P ≤ 0.05. Gene ontology of differentially expressed transcripts was annotated by DAVID and Panther. Physiological characteristics of the study animals are presented in a figure. Bioinformatic analysis by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis was curated, compiled, and presented in tables. A dataset comparison with similar microarray analyses was performed and bioinformatics analysis by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, DAVID, Panther, and String of differentially expressed genes from each dataset as well as the differentially expressed genes common to all three datasets were curated, compiled, and presented in tables. Finally, a table comparing four bioinformatics tools’ predictions of functions associated with genes common to all three datasets is presented. These data have been further analyzed and interpreted in the companion article “Early transcriptome responses of the bovine mid-cycle corpus luteum to prostaglandin F2 alpha includes cytokine signaling” [1]

Transcriptomic and bioinformatics analysis of the early time-course of the response to prostaglandin F2 alpha in the bovine corpus luteum

RNA expression analysis was performed on the corpus luteum tissue at five time points after prostaglandin F2 alpha treatment of midcycle cows using an Affymetrix Bovine Gene v1 Array. The normalized linear microarray data was uploaded to the NCBI GEO repository (GSE94069). Subsequent statistical analysis determined differentially expressed transcripts ± 1.5-fold change from saline control with P ≤ 0.05. Gene ontology of differentially expressed transcripts was annotated by DAVID and Panther. Physiological characteristics of the study animals are presented in a figure. Bioinformatic analysis by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis was curated, compiled, and presented in tables. A dataset comparison with similar microarray analyses was performed and bioinformatics analysis by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, DAVID, Panther, and String of differentially expressed genes from each dataset as well as the differentially expressed genes common to all three datasets were curated, compiled, and presented in tables. Finally, a table comparing four bioinformatics tools’ predictions of functions associated with genes common to all three datasets is presented. These data have been further analyzed and interpreted in the companion article “Early transcriptome responses of the bovine mid-cycle corpus luteum to prostaglandin F2 alpha includes cytokine signaling” [1]

Early transcriptome responses of the bovine midcycle corpus luteum to prostaglandin F2α includes cytokine signaling

In ruminants, prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2α)-mediated luteolysis is essential prior to estrous cycle resumption, and is a target for improving fertility. To deduce early PGF2α-provoked changes in the corpus luteum a short time-course (0.5-4 h) was performed on cows at midcycle. A microarraydetermined transcriptome was established and examined by bioinformatic pathway analysis. Classic PGF2α effects were evident by changes in early response genes (FOS, JUN, ATF3) and prediction of active pathways (PKC, MAPK). Several cytokine transcripts were elevated and NF-kB and STAT activation were predicted by pathway analysis. Self-organizing map analysis grouped differentially expressed transcripts into ten mRNA expression patterns indicative of temporal signaling cascades. Comparison with two analogous datasets revealed a conserved group of 124 transcripts similarly altered by PGF2α treatment, which both, directly and indirectly, indicated cytokine activation. Elevated levels of cytokine transcripts after PGF2α and predicted activation of cytokine pathways implicate inflammatory reactions early in PGF2α-mediated luteolysis

Gene expression profiling of bovine ovarian follicular and luteal cells provides insight into cellular identities and functions

After ovulation, somatic cells of the ovarian follicle (theca and granulosa cells) become the small and large luteal cells of the corpus luteum. Aside from known cell type-specific receptors and steroidogenic enzymes, little is known about the differences in the gene expression profiles of these four cell types. Analysis of the RNA present in each bovine cell type using Affymetrix microarrays yielded new cell-specific genetic markers, functional insight into the behavior of each cell type via Gene Ontology Annotations and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, and evidence of small and large luteal cell lineages using Principle Component Analysis. Enriched expression of select genes for each cell type was validated by qPCR. This expression analysis offers insight into cell-specific behaviors and the differentiation process that transforms somatic follicular cells into luteal cells

The POWER of a Healthier Tomorrow

poster abstractThe Pediatric OverWeight Education and Research Program aims to improve the health of obese children (ages 2-18) and decrease the risks associated with obesity through a high quality, multilevel and multidiscipline clinical program. Through the clinic and outreach in the community the POWER Program works to foster research in the area of pediatric obesity