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RNA‐seq Analysis of Placental Gene Expression: Effect of Maternal Obesity
Author(s) -
Shankar Kartik,
Zhong Ying,
Kang Ping,
Ronis Martin J,
Gomez-Acevedo Horacio
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.128.5
Subject(s) - placenta , biology , gene expression , placentation , offspring , gene , fetus , endocrinology , messenger rna , medicine , andrology , pregnancy , genetics
The rat placentation site is organized into distinct zones, the labyrinth (L), junctional (J) and metrial gland (MG) compartments. We utilized massively parallel sequencing (RNA‐seq) to assess mRNA expression profiles for each zone of the late‐gestation rat placenta (dpc18.5). In addition, we elucidated gene expression changes in the L, J and MG placental compartments, and fetal liver from in lean and obese dams at dpc18.5. Maternal obesity was induced in rats by overfeeding via total enteral nutrition. Analysis of expression profiles revealed that transport and vasculature‐related processes predominated in the L, hormone secretion in the J and immune interactions in the MG. Using k‐means clustering of ~4000 differentially expressed genes, we identified transcription factors (TF) with highest expression in either L, J or MG. The site‐specific expression of 27 TF was ascertained via qPCR. Exposure to maternal obesity produced pronounced changes in gene expression (± 1.3‐fold) in the MG (630 transcripts), followed by the J and L zones (437 and 151, respectively). mRNA expression of 172 transcripts was altered in the fetal liver. Gene expression changes in each compartment due to maternal obesity were unique. Our results suggest that maternal obesity alters distinct gene sets and biological processes in the rat placenta that are likely to impact development of the offspring. Support ARS‐CRIS 6251‐51000‐ 005‐00D.