Transcriptomic Differences between Monozygotic Adolescent Twins Discordant for Metabolic Syndrome Following Weight Loss: A Case Study

Kaitlin Day; Alan J. McCubbin; Chiara Murgia; Melissa C. Southey; Justin Brown; Helen Truby

doi:10.1017/thg.2022.34

Transcriptomic Differences between Monozygotic Adolescent Twins Discordant for Metabolic Syndrome Following Weight Loss: A Case Study

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Other › peer-review

Abstract

This case reports peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) transcriptomic changes in a pair of male monozygotic pediatric twins with metabolic syndrome (MetS) undertaking assisted weight loss. These 14-year-old boys presented with similar baseline biochemistry and body composition. After a 16-week weight-loss intervention, percent body weight loss was similar (Twin A 12%, and Twin B 13%). MetS resolved in Twin A but Twin B maintained elevated triglycerides after weight loss. Analysis of the PBMC transcriptome before and after weight loss revealed very different changes in gene expression including differences in the direction of expression of genes related to immune cell activation. 48.7% of genes that were downregulated in Twin A were upregulated in Twin B. This case highlights a novel approach to report the influence of chronic low-grade inflammation and metabolic dysfunction on the PBMC transcriptome. It explores whether expression of genes related to immune functions may underlie the differences in response to weight loss or whether transcriptomic alterations in immune cells may precede more traditional biomarkers of chronic pro-inflammation. These monozygotic twins present an example of divergence of phenotypic outcomes despite identical genetic background and similar treatment response.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	196-201
Number of pages	6
Journal	Twin Research and Human Genetics
Volume	25
Issue number	4-5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/thg.2022.34
Publication status	Published - 27 Oct 2022

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

gene expression
metabolic syndrome
Pediatric obesity

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10.1017/thg.2022.34Licence: CC BY

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@article{98daa4a008b84ede9597a35ccc3c75ad,

title = "Transcriptomic Differences between Monozygotic Adolescent Twins Discordant for Metabolic Syndrome Following Weight Loss: A Case Study",

abstract = "This case reports peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) transcriptomic changes in a pair of male monozygotic pediatric twins with metabolic syndrome (MetS) undertaking assisted weight loss. These 14-year-old boys presented with similar baseline biochemistry and body composition. After a 16-week weight-loss intervention, percent body weight loss was similar (Twin A 12\%, and Twin B 13\%). MetS resolved in Twin A but Twin B maintained elevated triglycerides after weight loss. Analysis of the PBMC transcriptome before and after weight loss revealed very different changes in gene expression including differences in the direction of expression of genes related to immune cell activation. 48.7\% of genes that were downregulated in Twin A were upregulated in Twin B. This case highlights a novel approach to report the influence of chronic low-grade inflammation and metabolic dysfunction on the PBMC transcriptome. It explores whether expression of genes related to immune functions may underlie the differences in response to weight loss or whether transcriptomic alterations in immune cells may precede more traditional biomarkers of chronic pro-inflammation. These monozygotic twins present an example of divergence of phenotypic outcomes despite identical genetic background and similar treatment response.",

keywords = "gene expression, metabolic syndrome, Pediatric obesity",

author = "Kaitlin Day and McCubbin, \{Alan J.\} and Chiara Murgia and Southey, \{Melissa C.\} and Justin Brown and Helen Truby",

note = "Funding Information: This work has been supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (grant number 1128317). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} ",

year = "2022",

month = oct,

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doi = "10.1017/thg.2022.34",

language = "English",

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T2 - A Case Study

AU - Day, Kaitlin

AU - McCubbin, Alan J.

AU - Murgia, Chiara

AU - Southey, Melissa C.

AU - Brown, Justin

AU - Truby, Helen

N1 - Funding Information: This work has been supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (grant number 1128317). Publisher Copyright: ©

PY - 2022/10/27

Y1 - 2022/10/27

N2 - This case reports peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) transcriptomic changes in a pair of male monozygotic pediatric twins with metabolic syndrome (MetS) undertaking assisted weight loss. These 14-year-old boys presented with similar baseline biochemistry and body composition. After a 16-week weight-loss intervention, percent body weight loss was similar (Twin A 12%, and Twin B 13%). MetS resolved in Twin A but Twin B maintained elevated triglycerides after weight loss. Analysis of the PBMC transcriptome before and after weight loss revealed very different changes in gene expression including differences in the direction of expression of genes related to immune cell activation. 48.7% of genes that were downregulated in Twin A were upregulated in Twin B. This case highlights a novel approach to report the influence of chronic low-grade inflammation and metabolic dysfunction on the PBMC transcriptome. It explores whether expression of genes related to immune functions may underlie the differences in response to weight loss or whether transcriptomic alterations in immune cells may precede more traditional biomarkers of chronic pro-inflammation. These monozygotic twins present an example of divergence of phenotypic outcomes despite identical genetic background and similar treatment response.

AB - This case reports peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) transcriptomic changes in a pair of male monozygotic pediatric twins with metabolic syndrome (MetS) undertaking assisted weight loss. These 14-year-old boys presented with similar baseline biochemistry and body composition. After a 16-week weight-loss intervention, percent body weight loss was similar (Twin A 12%, and Twin B 13%). MetS resolved in Twin A but Twin B maintained elevated triglycerides after weight loss. Analysis of the PBMC transcriptome before and after weight loss revealed very different changes in gene expression including differences in the direction of expression of genes related to immune cell activation. 48.7% of genes that were downregulated in Twin A were upregulated in Twin B. This case highlights a novel approach to report the influence of chronic low-grade inflammation and metabolic dysfunction on the PBMC transcriptome. It explores whether expression of genes related to immune functions may underlie the differences in response to weight loss or whether transcriptomic alterations in immune cells may precede more traditional biomarkers of chronic pro-inflammation. These monozygotic twins present an example of divergence of phenotypic outcomes despite identical genetic background and similar treatment response.

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KW - metabolic syndrome

KW - Pediatric obesity

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SN - 1832-4274

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JO - Twin Research and Human Genetics

JF - Twin Research and Human Genetics

IS - 4-5

ER -

Transcriptomic Differences between Monozygotic Adolescent Twins Discordant for Metabolic Syndrome Following Weight Loss: A Case Study

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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The alternate day fasting diet in adolescents with obesity: a randomised controlled trial

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Transcriptomic Differences between Monozygotic Adolescent Twins Discordant for Metabolic Syndrome Following Weight Loss: A Case Study

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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The alternate day fasting diet in adolescents with obesity: a randomised controlled trial

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