Immune profiles of male giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) during breeding season

Abstract

Background The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), regarded as the flagship species of conservation, is a most threatened species endemic to China. Life history theory proposes that reproduction and immunity can be mutually constraining and interrelated. The immunity changes of male giant pandas during reproduction is not clear. Results Here, we did research on peripheral blood gene expression profiles associated with immunity. 13 giant pandas with ages ranging from 9 to 11 years old were divided into two groups depending on whether or not they were in breeding season. We identified 318 up-regulated DEGs and 43 down-regulated DEGs, which were enriched in 87 GO terms and 6 KEGG pathways. What’s more, we obtained 45 immune-related genes with altered expression, mostly up-regulated, and identified four hub genes HSPA4, SUGT1, SOD1 and IL1B in PPI analysis. These genes were related to pattern recognition receptors, autophagy, peroxisome, proteasome, natural killer cell, antigen processing and presentation. Our results suggest that most immune-related genes were up-regulated and more related to innate immune than adaptive immune. Conclusions Male giant pandas presented an immunoenhancement in innate immunity, enhanced antigen presentation and processing in cellular immunity, and a low humoral immunity during breeding season. This study will provide a foundation for further studies of immunity and reproduction in giant pandas.