Single-nucleus transcriptomes reveal the underlying mechanisms of dynamic whitening in thermogenic adipose tissue in goats
Abstract Background Thermogenic adipose tissue, both beige and brown, experiences whitening as animals are exposed to warmth and age, but the potential mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we employed single-nucleus RNA-seq to construct a cell atlas during whitening progression and id...
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BMC
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-025-01157-1 |
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| author | Manman Li Nange Ma Shujie Luo Yuyi Lu Xixi Yan Yang Li Xinmei Li Zhuohui Li Zhipei Wu Zhenyu Wei Wei Wang Huimei Fan Yu Jiang Yan Xiong Yu Wang |
| author_facet | Manman Li Nange Ma Shujie Luo Yuyi Lu Xixi Yan Yang Li Xinmei Li Zhuohui Li Zhipei Wu Zhenyu Wei Wei Wang Huimei Fan Yu Jiang Yan Xiong Yu Wang |
| author_sort | Manman Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Thermogenic adipose tissue, both beige and brown, experiences whitening as animals are exposed to warmth and age, but the potential mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we employed single-nucleus RNA-seq to construct a cell atlas during whitening progression and identified the characteristics of thermogenic adipocytes. Results Our histological studies and bulk transcriptome gene expression analysis confirmed that both perirenal and omental adipose tissues (pAT and oAT) exhibited progressive whitening in goats. Compared to the classic brown adipocytes in mice, goat thermogenic adipocytes were more closely related in gene expression patterns to human beige adipocytes, which was also confirmed by adipocyte type- and lineage-specific marker expression analysis. Furthermore, trajectory analysis revealed beige- and white-like adipocytes deriving from a common origin, coexisting and undergoing the transdifferentiation. In addition, differences in gene expression profiles and cell communication patterns (e.g., FGF and CALCR signaling) between oAT and pAT suggested a lower thermogenic capacity of oAT than that of pAT. Conclusions We constructed a cell atlas of goat pAT and oAT and descripted the characteristics of thermogenic adipocytes during whitening progression. Altogether, our results make a significant contribution to the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind the whitening of thermogenic adipocytes, and providing new insights into obesity prevention in humans and cold adaptation in animals. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d025c9b1e0bd440db39e6882fb872952 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2049-1891 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology |
| spelling | doaj-art-d025c9b1e0bd440db39e6882fb8729522025-02-09T12:49:05ZengBMCJournal of Animal Science and Biotechnology2049-18912025-02-0116111510.1186/s40104-025-01157-1Single-nucleus transcriptomes reveal the underlying mechanisms of dynamic whitening in thermogenic adipose tissue in goatsManman Li0Nange Ma1Shujie Luo2Yuyi Lu3Xixi Yan4Yang Li5Xinmei Li6Zhuohui Li7Zhipei Wu8Zhenyu Wei9Wei Wang10Huimei Fan11Yu Jiang12Yan Xiong13Yu Wang14Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F UniversityKey Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F UniversityKey Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Utilization, Ministry of Education, College of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Southwest Minzu UniversityKey Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F UniversityKey Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F UniversityKey Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F UniversityKey Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F UniversityKey Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F UniversityKey Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F UniversityKey Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F UniversityKey Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F UniversityKey Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F UniversityKey Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F UniversityKey Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Resource Reservation and Utilization, Ministry of Education, College of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Southwest Minzu UniversityKey Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F UniversityAbstract Background Thermogenic adipose tissue, both beige and brown, experiences whitening as animals are exposed to warmth and age, but the potential mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we employed single-nucleus RNA-seq to construct a cell atlas during whitening progression and identified the characteristics of thermogenic adipocytes. Results Our histological studies and bulk transcriptome gene expression analysis confirmed that both perirenal and omental adipose tissues (pAT and oAT) exhibited progressive whitening in goats. Compared to the classic brown adipocytes in mice, goat thermogenic adipocytes were more closely related in gene expression patterns to human beige adipocytes, which was also confirmed by adipocyte type- and lineage-specific marker expression analysis. Furthermore, trajectory analysis revealed beige- and white-like adipocytes deriving from a common origin, coexisting and undergoing the transdifferentiation. In addition, differences in gene expression profiles and cell communication patterns (e.g., FGF and CALCR signaling) between oAT and pAT suggested a lower thermogenic capacity of oAT than that of pAT. Conclusions We constructed a cell atlas of goat pAT and oAT and descripted the characteristics of thermogenic adipocytes during whitening progression. Altogether, our results make a significant contribution to the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind the whitening of thermogenic adipocytes, and providing new insights into obesity prevention in humans and cold adaptation in animals.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-025-01157-1Beige adipocytessnRNA-seqThermogenic adipose tissueWhitening |
| spellingShingle | Manman Li Nange Ma Shujie Luo Yuyi Lu Xixi Yan Yang Li Xinmei Li Zhuohui Li Zhipei Wu Zhenyu Wei Wei Wang Huimei Fan Yu Jiang Yan Xiong Yu Wang Single-nucleus transcriptomes reveal the underlying mechanisms of dynamic whitening in thermogenic adipose tissue in goats Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology Beige adipocytes snRNA-seq Thermogenic adipose tissue Whitening |
| title | Single-nucleus transcriptomes reveal the underlying mechanisms of dynamic whitening in thermogenic adipose tissue in goats |
| title_full | Single-nucleus transcriptomes reveal the underlying mechanisms of dynamic whitening in thermogenic adipose tissue in goats |
| title_fullStr | Single-nucleus transcriptomes reveal the underlying mechanisms of dynamic whitening in thermogenic adipose tissue in goats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Single-nucleus transcriptomes reveal the underlying mechanisms of dynamic whitening in thermogenic adipose tissue in goats |
| title_short | Single-nucleus transcriptomes reveal the underlying mechanisms of dynamic whitening in thermogenic adipose tissue in goats |
| title_sort | single nucleus transcriptomes reveal the underlying mechanisms of dynamic whitening in thermogenic adipose tissue in goats |
| topic | Beige adipocytes snRNA-seq Thermogenic adipose tissue Whitening |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-025-01157-1 |
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