👤 Filippo Sartori

Susceptibility to obesity differs depending on the genetic background and housing temperatures. We have recently reported that CETP expressing female mice are leaner due to increased lipolysis, brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity, and body energy expenditure compared to nontransgenic (NTg) littermates under standard housing temperature (22°C). The aim of this study is to evaluate how CETP expression affects body temperature, composition, and metabolism during cold exposure (4°C) and thermoneutrality (30°C). When submitted to cold, CETP mice maintained rectal temperature, body weight, and food intake similarly to NTg mice along acute or chronic exposure to 4°C. The body oxygen consumption in response to an isoproterenol challenge was 21% higher at 22°C, and 41% higher after 7 days of cold exposure in CETP than in NTg mice. In addition, BAT biopsies from CETP mice showed reduced lipid content and increased basal oxygen consumption rates. Under thermoneutrality (30°C), when BAT activity is inhibited, CETP mice showed higher rectal and tail temperatures, increased food intake, and increased energy expenditure. Lean mass was elevated and fat mass reduced in CETP mice kept at 30°C. In this thermoneutral condition, soleus muscle, but not gastrocnemius or liver of CETP mice, showed increased mitochondrial respiration rates. These data indicate that CETP expression confers a greater capacity of elevating body metabolic rates at both cold exposure, through BAT activity, and at thermoneutrality, through increased muscle metabolism. Thus, the CETP expression levels in females should be considered as a new influence in the contexts of obesity and metabolic disorders propensity. Show less

Beef cattle breeds from Central and Southern Italy, such as Marchigiana, Chianina, Romagnola, Maremmana, and Podolica, represent a unique genetic resource shaped by centuries of natural and artificial selection. Their origin, partly linked to the Podolian group, remains debated, while their adaptation to diverse environments and close association with regional economies enhance their zootechnical and cultural value. Despite their importance, comprehensive assessments of their genomic diversity are still limited, especially in an international context where preserving local breeds is crucial to maintain global biodiversity and resilience in livestock systems. This study investigates population structure, inbreeding, selection signatures, and effective population size using medium-density single-nucleotide polymorphism genotypes. Multivariate and clustering approaches confirmed clear genetic differentiation among breeds, with Chianina and Romagnola being the most divergent, in line with their intensive selection history. In contrast, Maremmana and Podolica displayed shared ancestral components, reflecting their adaptation to extensive and marginal environments. Pairwise F Show less

During early mammalian development, transient pools of pluripotent cells emerge that can be immortalised upon stem cell derivation. The pluripotent state, 'naïve' or 'primed', depends on the embryonic stage and derivation conditions used. Here we analyse the temporal gene expression patterns of mouse, cattle and porcine embryos at stages that harbour different types of pluripotent cells. We document conserved and divergent traits in gene expression, and identify predictor genes shared across the species that are associated with pluripotent states Show less

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) play pleiotropic and crucial roles in biological systems. Both blood and tissue levels of PUFA are influenced not only by diet, but to a large extent also by genetic heritability. Delta-5 (D5D) and delta-6 desaturases (D6D), encoded respectively by FADS1 and FADS2 genes, are the rate-limiting enzymes for PUFA conversion and are recognized as main determinants of PUFA levels. Alterations of D5D/D6D activity have been associated with several diseases, from metabolic derangements to neuropsychiatric illnesses, from type 2 diabetes to cardiovascular disease, from inflammation to tumorigenesis. Similar results have been found by investigations on FADS1/FADS2 genotypes. Recent genome-wide association studies showed that FADS1/FADS2 genetic locus, beyond being the main determinant of PUFA, was strongly associated with plasma lipids and glucose metabolism. Other analyses suggested potential link between FADS1/FADS2 polymorphisms and cognitive development, immunological illnesses, and cardiovascular disease. Lessons from both animal models and rare disorders in humans further emphasized the key role of desaturases in health and disease. Remarkably, some of the above mentioned associations appear to be influenced by the environmental context/PUFA dietary intake, in particular the relative prevalence of ω-3 and ω-6 PUFA. In this narrative review we provide a summary of the evidences linking FADS1/FADS2 gene variants and D5D/D6D activities with various traits of human physiopathology. Moreover, we focus also on the potentially useful therapeutic application of D5D/D6D activity modulation, as suggested by anti-inflammatory and tumor-suppressing effects of D6D inhibition in mice models. Show less