The MicroRNA-signaling-peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Connection in the Modulation of Adipogenesis: Bioinformatics Projection on Chicken

Meat quality and nutritional value hinge on many factors, including fat content in the adipose tissue. In the adipogenesis process, stem cells are first committed to become preadipocytes, followed by preadipocyte differentiation. In the later event, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is the gateway through which adipogenic genes are activated. This review focuses on clarifying the effects of signaling transduction on PPARγ that have been experimentally established in the adipogenesis process. Furthermore, microRNA (miRNA) are validated to target the signaling factors and impact adipogenesis are appraised to establish the miRNA-signaling-PPARγ regulatory connection in adipogenesis. As opposed to red meat, chicken is white meat, which is increasingly appreciated for health and environmental reasons. Most works reported on the miRNA-signaling-PPARγ network in adipogenesis used human and other laboratory and farm animal models. We show here that database interrogation and bioinformatics analysis may be applied to extrapolate reported findings to chicken based on evolutionary conservation. Understanding molecular modulation of adipogenesis may contribute to clinical treatment of lipid disorders and obesity in humans, and improved meat quality and commercial value in chicken farming, and possibly in the creation of artificial meat.