In this study, we examined the effects of Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90) on adipocyte proliferation and differentiation in chickens. To achieve this, we constructed RNA interference (RNAi) vectors to target HSP90 and transfected the vectors into primary adipocytes. After transfection, oil red O staining was performed to determine the status of triglyceride accumulation in the cells, whereas the CCK-8 cell kit and 5-Ethynyl-2'-Deoxyuridine (EdU) assays were used to determine cell proliferation. Thereafter, the mRNA and protein expression levels of PPARγ, FAS, SREBP-1c, and HSP90 were determined, and the results showed that after the interference of HSP90, the mRNA and protein expression levels of HSP90 in the chicken adipocytes decreased significantly compared to the control and blank groups (p < 0.05). The decreased mRNA and protein expression of PPARγ, FAS, and SREBP-1c was related to adipocyte differentiation (p < 0.05). However, HSP90 interference had no effect on adipocyte proliferation (p > 0.05). Taken together, the results of this study showed that HSP90 influenced the expression of PPARγ and adipose-differentiation-related genes, thereby regulating triglyceride accumulation and adipocyte differentiation in chickens.
Keywords: HSP90; RNA interference; adipocyte differentiation; adipocytes.