In vivo overexpression of ANGPTL3 promotes hepatic steatosis and inflammatory injury in chickens

Fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS) is a common metabolic disorder in laying hens that severely impacts the poultry industry by reducing egg production and causing sudden mortality. To investigate the genetic factors underlying fatty liver development in chickens, we generated transgenic chimeric chickens by adenoviral injection into embryos and induced angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3) overexpression using a Tet-On system. The role of ANGPTL3 in the pathogenesis of FLHS was subsequently examined. Our results demonstrated that ANGPTL3 overexpression markedly increased liver weight and lipid deposition, aggravated oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, and altered the expression of lipid metabolism–related genes. These findings highlight a pivotal role of ANGPTL3 in the development of fatty liver in chickens and provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying FLHS, offering potential targets for prevention and therapeutic intervention.