Differential expression of insulin receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (fetuin) gene in a model of diet-induced obesity.

The Differential Display technique has been used to identify differences in mRNA expression in adipose tissue after the introduction of a high fat diet to two strains of rat (OM and S5B/PI) that differ in their susceptibility to develop obesity on this diet. The insulin receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor protein (fetuin) was shown to be differentially expressed in OM but not S5B/PI rats. This circulating protein may play a role in the development of peripheral insulin resistance associated with high fat diets.