Work

Systems Genetics Analysis of Obesity using RNA-Seq Data in an F2 Pig Resource Population

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: Obesity is a complex problem, associated with many diseases.Microarray gene expression data have been extensively used to detect differentially expressed (DE) genes and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL), however, RNA-Sequencing data have the potential to reveal novel genes involved in complex traits.The objective was to elucidate biological pathways and potential biomarkers for obesity in a porcine model, by systems genetics approaches using RNA-Sequencing data.Previously, we created an F2 pig population which was deeply phenotyped and genotyped.Based on their degree of obesity, 36 animals were selected for RNA-Sequencing.Analysis included DE, pathway detection and eQTL mapping.We identified 198 DE genes, which could be divided in immune and developmental related processes.Furthermore, we revealed 761 cis-eQTLs of which several could be linked to obesity.Concluding, systems genetics analysis of RNA-Seq data elucidated biologically relevant pathways and potential genetic biomarkers affecting obesity.

Source: Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen)