# Integrative metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis reveals stage-specific shifts in hepatic lipid metabolism of broiler chickens **Authors:** Jingjing Li, Yidan Xu, Peng Ren, Xia Xiong, Mohan Qiu, Chunlin Yu, Yiping Liu, Chaowu Yang PMC · DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2026.2622124 · Animal Biotechnology · 2026-02-03 ## TL;DR This study explores how liver lipid metabolism changes in broiler chickens across different life stages using metabolomic and transcriptomic data. ## Contribution The study identifies stage-specific metabolic pathways and genes involved in hepatic lipid metabolism in broiler chickens. ## Key findings - Age significantly affects lipid, carbohydrate, and amino acid metabolism in chicken livers. - Key genes like FADS2, ACAT2, and VTG1 were linked to lipid metabolism pathways. - Metabolomic and transcriptomic data revealed shifts in hepatic lipid metabolism across physiological stages. ## Abstract Managing fat accumulation is a critical goal in the poultry industry, with the liver being the primary site for lipid metabolism in chickens. This study used non-targeted metabolomics to investigate dynamic changes in metabolite composition in chicken liver across five physiological stages. A total of 1121 metabolites were identified, with 749 and 372 detected in positive- and negative-ion modes, respectively. The regulation of hepatic lipolysis involves numerous metabolic pathways, making it a complex process. We performed trend analysis of lipid, carbohydrate and amino acid-related metabolites. Age exerted major effects on hepatic metabolism, significantly enriching pathways including alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, 2-oxocarboxylic acid metabolism and nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism. Transcriptomic analysis identified 12 lipid-metabolism-related genes, showing a tendency of continuously increase. Potential functional genes influencing lipid metabolism–related pathways were identified through a comprehensive analysis of differential lipid-related metabolites and genes, including fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2), acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 2 (ACAT2), apovitellenin 1 (APOV1), vitellogenin 1 (VTG1), membrane-bound O-acyltransferase domain-containing protein 2 (MBOAT2) and ELOVL fatty acid elongase 1 (ELOVL1). These findings could help improve understanding of hepatic metabolism during different physiological stages and identify valuable biomarkers for specific metabolite accumulation. ## Linked entities - **Genes:** FADS2 (fatty acid desaturase 2) [NCBI Gene 9415], ACAT2 (acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 2) [NCBI Gene 39], APOV1 (apovitellenin 1) [NCBI Gene 396476], VTG1 (vitellogenin 1) [NCBI Gene 424547], MBOAT2 (membrane bound glycerophospholipid O-acyltransferase 2) [NCBI Gene 129642], ELOVL1 (ELOVL fatty acid elongase 1) [NCBI Gene 64834] - **Chemicals:** alpha-linolenic acid (PubChem CID 5280934), linoleic acid (PubChem CID 5280450), nicotinate (PubChem CID 937), nicotinamide (PubChem CID 936) ## Full-text entities - **Genes:** RXRG (retinoid X receptor gamma) [NCBI Gene 396231], UQCR11 (ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase, complex III subunit XI) [NCBI Gene 770135] {aka UQCR}, H1-010 (H1.010 linker histone, cluster member) [NCBI Gene 417948] {aka 1-10, HIST1H110, MDBP-2-H1}, ELOVL1 (ELOVL fatty acid elongase 1) [NCBI Gene 424564], SCARI86 (scavenger receptor class I member 86) [NCBI Gene 101747860], NEBL (nebulette) [NCBI Gene 395148] {aka LASP-2}, VTG2 (vitellogenin 2) [NCBI Gene 424533] {aka VIT2, vit, vitellogenin-2}, SLC4A4 (solute carrier family 4 member 4) [NCBI Gene 422649], GABRA3 (gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor alpha3 subunit) [NCBI Gene 422289], MEGF9 [NCBI Gene 430373], EHHADH (enoyl-CoA hydratase and 3-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase) [NCBI Gene 424877], DUSP16 (dual specificity phosphatase 16) [NCBI Gene 431336], GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) [NCBI Gene 374193] {aka GAPD, KNC-NDS6}, ELOVL1 (ELOVL fatty acid elongase 1) [NCBI Gene 64834] {aka CGI-88, IKSHD, Ssc1}, GALNT16 (polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 16) [NCBI Gene 423263] {aka GALNTL1}, APOV1 (apovitellenin 1) [NCBI Gene 396476] {aka APO-II, APO-VLDL-II, APOVLDLII, apovitellenin-1}, TTC32 (tetratricopeptide repeat domain 32) [NCBI Gene 769943], ACAT2 (acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 2) [NCBI Gene 421587], ACACA (acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha) [NCBI Gene 396504] {aka ACAC}, ABCA12 (ATP binding cassette subfamily A member 12) [NCBI Gene 424011], HAL (histidine ammonia-lyase) [NCBI Gene 3034] {aka HIS, HSTD}, LOC768772 (uncharacterized LOC768772) [NCBI Gene 768772], VTG3 (vitellogenin 3) [NCBI Gene 424534] {aka VYG3, VYGIII, vitellogenin-3, vtgIII}, PCSK1 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 1) [NCBI Gene 769230] {aka PC1}, ACAT2 (acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 2) [NCBI Gene 39], ALDH7A1 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 7 family member A1) [NCBI Gene 426812], MBOAT2 (membrane bound O-acyltransferase domain containing 2) [NCBI Gene 421925] {aka LPLAT 2, OACT2}, FABP1 (fatty acid binding protein 1) [NCBI Gene 374015] {aka L-FABP, LFABP}, FADS2 (fatty acid desaturase 2) [NCBI Gene 9415] {aka D6D, DES6, FADSD6, LLCDL2, SLL0262, TU13}, ACOT1L (acyl-CoA thioesterase 1 like) [NCBI Gene 423222], FADS2 (fatty acid desaturase 2) [NCBI Gene 423122], PCDH1 (protocadherin 1) [NCBI Gene 416194] {aka protocadherin-1}, VTG1 (vitellogenin 1) [NCBI Gene 424547] {aka LVII, TPRXL, VIT1, YGP42, vitellogenin-1}, BCS1L (BCS1 homolog, ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase complex chaperone) [NCBI Gene 424212] - **Diseases:** steatotic liver disease (MESH:D008107), NAFLD (MESH:D065626), inflammatory (MESH:D007249), metabolic dysfunction (MESH:D008659), liver injury (MESH:D017093) - **Chemicals:** serine (MESH:D012694), carbohydrate (MESH:D002241), eosin (MESH:D004801), ALC (MESH:D000108), Threonine (MESH:D013912), Nicotinate (MESH:D009525), monosaccharide (MESH:D009005), C4H6O4 (MESH:D019802), Steroid hormone (MESH:D013256), ATP (MESH:D000255), paraformaldehyde (MESH:C003043), glycogen (MESH:D006003), polyunsaturated fatty acid (MESH:D005231), glycerol 3-phosphate (MESH:C029620), triacylglycerols (MESH:D014280), oil (MESH:D009821), C5H9NO2 (MESH:D011392), palmitic acid (MESH:D019308), C6H9N3O2 (MESH:D006639), ammonium acetate (MESH:C018824), Fructose 6-phosphate (MESH:C027618), H2O (MESH:D014867), NADP+ (MESH:D009249), C4H8N2O3 (MESH:D001216), Fucose (MESH:D005643), NAD+ (MESH:D009243), lysophospholipids (MESH:D008246), acetyl CoA (MESH:D000105), tricarboxylic acid (MESH:D014233), haematoxylin (MESH:D006416), cholesterol (MESH:D002784), glycerophospholipids (MESH:D020404), Oil red O (MESH:C011049), C6H12O6 (MESH:D005947), methanol (MESH:D000432), formic acid (MESH:C030544), nicotinamide (MESH:D009536), amino acid (MESH:D000596), Palmitoylcarnitine (MESH:D010172), glyceric acid (MESH:C042971), Lipid (MESH:D008055), Trizol (MESH:C411644), Fatty acid (MESH:D005227), arachidonic acid (MESH:D016718), nitrogen (MESH:D009584), alpha-linolenic acid (MESH:D017962), free fatty acids (MESH:D005230), Glucose-6 phosphate (MESH:D019298), Carnitine (MESH:D002331), glycine (MESH:D005998), C23H45NO4 (-), linoleic acid (MESH:D019787), C3H7NO2S (MESH:D003545), sphingolipids (MESH:D013107) - **Species:** Bos taurus (bovine, species) [taxon 9913], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Gallus gallus (bantam, species) [taxon 9031] ## Full text _Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12875106/full.md ## Figures 9 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12875106/full.md ## References 51 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12875106/full.md --- Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12875106