Establishment of liver-specific Rbp4 knockout mice and analysis of glucose metabolism characteristics
Objective To establish a liver-specific Rbp4 gene knockout mouse model and to explore the effect of liver Rbp4 gene deletion on glucose metabolism.Methods Cre-LoxP technology was used to construct a liver-specific Rbp4 gene knockout mouse model using C57/BL6J and Alb-Cre mice.The genotype of the mice was identified by polymerase chain reaction and agarose gel electrophoresis.Ten 18 week old C57/BL6J male mice were included in the WT group,10 flox homozygous and Alb-Cre negative mice of the same age were included in the experimental control group(Rbp4flox/flox:Cre-),and 10 flox homozygous and Alb-Cre positive mice of the same age were included in the experimental group(Rbp4flox/flox:Cre+).Expression levels of RBP4 protein and mRNA in the liver were verified by Western Blot and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR),respectively,and expression levels of Rbp4 mRNA in other tissues were detected by qRT-PCR.Morphological changes in liver tissue were detected by hematoxylin and eosin staining.Blood glucose values were detected in mouse tail vein blood samples using a blood glucose meter,and glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance were determined.Expression levels of the liver glucose metabolism genes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase(Pepck)and glucose-6-phosphatase(G6pase)were detected by qRT-PCR.Results Liver-specific Rbp4 knockout mice were successfully bred and identified.RBP4 protein and mRNA levels were significantly decreased in the liver of Rbp4flox/flox:Cre+mice(P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference in the relative expression levels of Rbp4 mRNA in fat,kidney,pancreas,spleen,heart,or muscle tissues among the three groups(P＞0.05).Liver-specific Rbp4 knockout had no significant effect on liver morphology,glucose tolerance,or insulin tolerance(P＞0.05).Pepck mRNA levels in the liver differed significantly among the three groups(P＜0.05),and pairwise comparison showed that liver Pepck mRNA levels were significantly lower in Rbp4flox/flox:Cre+mice compared with levels in Rbp4flox/flox:Cre-mice(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in liver glucose-6-phosphatase(G6pase)mRNA expression among the three groups(P＞0.05).Conclusions We successfully constructed a liver-specific Rbp4 knockout mouse model.Deletion of Rbp4 in the liver inhibited expression of Pepck mRNA in the liver,thus providing a basis for further exploration of the role of this gene in glucose metabolism in mice.
type 2 diabetes mellitusretinol-binding protein 4gene knockoutglucose metabolisminsulin resistance
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