Trans Fatty Acid Intake Modulates the Expression of Uncoupling Proteins 2 and 3 (UCP2 & UCP3) mRNA in Children.
Walaa M Sarhan1*
, Safaa El-Hussien Tawfik2, Amal S El-Shal1, Vishruti Makani3, Hanim M. Abdel-Nour1
1Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
2National Nutrition Institute, Cairo, Egypt.
3Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States of America.
Corresponding Author Email: walaasarhan@hotmail.com
Abstract:
Increased consumption of Trans Fats is associated with increased risk of Coronary Heart Disease. Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are mitochondrial proteins that disperse the inter-membrane electrochemical potential as heat. We aimed to detect the relation of high Trans-fat intake in diet on the expression of UCP2&3 m-RNA in children. A specific questionnaire to parents of sixty-eight children (4-15 years) was conducted. Accordingly, the subjects were sub-grouped into; High Trans-fat consuming group (37 subjects) and a Medium Trans-fat consuming one (31 subjects). Samples collected from Peripheral blood to analyze UCP2&3 mRNA expression by Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Levels of UCP2 expression was reduced in children consuming High Trans-fat (2.5 ±0.7) in comparison with Medium Trans-fat consuming ones (1.5± 0.2) with (p<0.001). However, not much significance was showed in UCP3 expression with values (2.1±0.5) in the High consuming group and (1.9±0.2) in Medium consuming group with (p=0.08). In Delta relationship the diet-induced changes in UCP2 (r=0.66, P=0.002) and UCP3 (r=0.61, P=0.06) mRNA expression was negatively correlated with percentage of Trans-fat in diet. The correlation of UCP2&3 mRNA expression and high Trans-fat intake suggests a mechanism by which high Trans-fat diet plays a role in childhood obesity.
Keywords:
Mitochondrial Uncoupling; mRNA Expression; Questionnaire; Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR);Trans Fatty Acids; Uncoupling Proteins (UCPs)
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