Characterization of Long Non-Coding RNA Profiles in Porcine Granulosa Cells of Healthy and Atretic Antral Follicles: Implications for a Potential Role in Apoptosis

Abstract

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in multiple biological processes including ovarian follicular development. Here we aimed to gain novel information regarding lncRNAs transcriptome profiles in porcine granulosa cells of advanced atretic antral (AA) and healthy antral (HA) follicles using RNA-seq. A total of 11,321 lncRNAs including 10,813 novel and 508 annotated lncRNAs were identified, of which 173 lncRNAs were differentially expressed (DE-lncRNAs); ten of these were confirmed by qRT-PCR. Gene Ontology indicated that DE-lncRNAs associated with developmental processes were highly enriched. Pathway analysis demonstrated predicted cis- and trans-targets of DE-lncRNAs. Potential mRNA targets of up-regulated DE-lncRNAs were mainly enriched in apoptosis related pathways, while targeted genes of downregulated DE-lncRNAs were primarily enriched in metabolism and ovarian steroidogenesis pathways. Linear regression analyses showed that expression of upregulated DE-lncRNAs was significantly associated with apoptosis related genes. NOVEL_00001850 is the most-downregulated DE-lncRNA (FDR=0.04, FC=-6.53), of which miRNA binding sites were predicted. KEGG analysis of its downregulated target genes revealed that ovarian steroidogenesis was the second most highlighted pathway. qRT-PCR and linear regression analysis confirmed the expression and correlation of its potential targeted gene, CYP19A1, a key gene involved in estradiol synthesis. Our results indicate that lncRNAs may participate in granulosa cells apoptosis and thus antral follicular atresia.

Integrated analysis of lncRNA and mRNA for the apoptosis of porcine ovarian granulosa cells after polyphenol resveratrol treatment

“…And there were 68, 118, and 54 DELs identified in the LOW vs. CON, HIGH vs. CON, and HIGH vs. LOW groups, respectively. By comparing the existing literature with the results of this experiment (33), differences in the type and expression levels of lncRNAs at different concentrations of induction were observed. Thus, it is likely that lncRNAs are involved in the regulation of apoptosis and metabolism induced by RES.…”

Expression of Long Noncoding RNAs in the Ovarian Granulosa Cells of Women with Diminished Ovarian Reserve Using High-Throughput Sequencing

“…In recent years, several studies have identi ed an important role for lncRNAs in the regulation of follicle development (19,20). Studies have identi ed differential expression of lncRNAs associated with reproductive function by using RNA-seq of OGCs obtained from humans (21), pigs (22), and chickens (23). Most of those studies have focused on PCOS (24,25), endometriosis (26, 27), and POF (28, 29).…”

Impact of Cigarette Smoking on the Expression of Oxidative Stress-Related Genes in Cumulus Cells Retrieved from Healthy Women Undergoing IVF

“…The exposure to cigarette smoke or its constituents altered the ovarian redox balance as evidenced by experimental data conducted in vitro or in vivo on animal models [ 13 , 19 , 21 , 74 ]. More to the point, a recent study of Meng et al [ 75 ], which aimed to characterize the complex transcriptome changes in porcine granulosa cells of healthy antral (HA) and advanced antral atretic (AA) follicles, showed a general downregulation in expression of genes associated with antioxidant processes, such as GCLC, DHCR24, IDH1, TXNIP, GCLM, MSRB2, GPX8, GSTA1 and RRM2B, in the granulosa cells of AA follicles. Concerning the human counterpart, the adverse impact of smoking on female fertility is supported by clinical data.…”