# Identification of a specific set of genes predicting obesity before phenotype appearance

## TL;DR

This study identifies a set of genes that can predict obesity risk in mice before symptoms appear, with potential applications in humans.

## Contribution

The study discovers a gene expression profile that predicts obesity predisposition across species and sexes before phenotypic signs emerge.

## Key findings

- A set of genes in white adipose tissue correlates with obesity susceptibility before symptoms appear.
- The gene expression profile is predictive across species, sexes, and different adipose tissue deposits.
- The prediction model was validated using both mouse and human datasets.

## Abstract

Obesity poses significant health and socioeconomic challenges, necessitating early detection of predisposition for effective personalized prevention. To identify candidate predictive markers, our study used two mouse models: one exhibiting interindividual variability in obesity predisposition and another inducing metabolic phenotypes through maternal nutritional stresses. In both cases, predisposition was assessed by challenging mice with a high-fat diet. Using multivariate analyses of transcriptomic data from white adipose tissue, we identified a set of genes whose expression correlates with an elevated susceptibility to obesity. Importantly, the expression of these genes was impacted prior to the appearance of any symptoms. A prediction model, incorporating both mouse and publicly available human datasets, confirmed the discriminative capacities of our set of genes across species, sexes, and adipose tissue deposits. These genes are promising candidates to serve as diagnostic tools for identifying individuals at risk of obesity.

•Perinatal metabolic imprinting has adverse health effects lasting for the entire life•A specific gene expression profile is predictive of obesity predisposition•It distinguishes animals that are prone to obesity before phenotypic signs appear•It is predictive across species, sexes, and adipose tissue deposits

Perinatal metabolic imprinting has adverse health effects lasting for the entire life

A specific gene expression profile is predictive of obesity predisposition

It distinguishes animals that are prone to obesity before phenotypic signs appear

It is predictive across species, sexes, and adipose tissue deposits

Physiology; Genetics; Transcriptomics