Gene expression in liver of mice fed a high-fat, high-sucrose diet

We have employed whole genome microarray expression profiling in the liver of mice fed a high-fat, high-sucrose diet for 15 weeks to search genes with N-terminal signal sequences whose expression is altered concomitantly with changes in islet size. At 15 weeks, this analysis revealed a significant >4-fold upregulation in 118 genes and downregulation by >75% in 22 genes encoding putative secreted factors in liver of mice fed a HFHS, although few changes (<2-fold upregulated or >one-half downregulated) were observed at 10 weeks. Expression of four genes (NRG1, GPNMB, SERPINB1 and HGF) from this signature was quantified in the different RNA samples by real-time PCR, confirming low variability between mice. Gene expression in mouse liver was measured at 0, 5, 10, and 15 weeks after a high-fat, high-sucrose diet. Four mice at each time point were treated with a high-fat, high-sucrose diet for 0, 5, 10, or 15 weeks.