Transcriptom analysis revealed regulation of dexamethasone induced microRNAs in chicken thymus

Abstract

Stress‐induced immunosuppression is one of the serious threats to the poultry industry, especially obvious for young chicken. However, the molecular mechanism of stress‐induced immunosuppression has not been clear in chicken. Here, we established an immunosuppression model of 7‐day‐old chickens with injecting dexamethasone (Dex) to analyze the molecular regulation in the chicken thymus. The microRNAs (miRNAs) transcripts profiles of thymuses from the model and control group were identified by the Solexa sequencing technology. The results showed 121 significantly differently expressed (SDE) miRNAs, including 119 known and two novel miRNAs (novel‐58 and novel‐350). A total of 391 target genes of the SDE miRNAs were predicted and annotated. We verified the potential negative correlation between gga‐miR‐103‐3p and TGM2 by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR), as well as between novel‐350 and PCBD2, and the results were positive. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis showed that there was 298 significant enrichment GO terms, in which 31 were related to immune or stress, such as lymphocyte apoptotic process and response to stress. KEGG pathway analysis suggested that the SDE miRNAs were involved in autophagy regulation, cytokine‐cytokine receptor interaction, Toll‐like receptor signaling pathway, Jak‐STAT signaling pathway, and so on (although not significantly enriched). In these immune signaling pathways, the SDE miRNAs (such as gga‐miR‐2954, gga‐miR‐146b‐3p, gga‐miR‐106‐3p, and gga‐miR‐214) and the predicted target genes (such as IL11Ra, CSF3R, IFNGR1, CNTF, and MAP2K2) might affect the thymus immune function of chicken. The above results would provide a basis for uncovering the molecular regulation mechanism of immunosuppression in poultry.

Genomic variations and signatures of selection in Wuhua yellow chicken

“…Accordingly, it is a safe immunostimulator in chickens. IL11RA encodes the IL-11 receptor, and mutations in this gene cause autosomal recessive Crouzon‐like craniosynostosis [ 54 ] and affect thymus immune function [ 55 ]. Vascular endothelial growth factor C ( VEGFC ) is a determinant of lymphatic vessel density, tumor staging, and lymph node metastasis, and is associated with the failure of nasopharyngeal carcinoma to respond to radiotherapy [ 56 ].…”

Identifying Hub Genes for Heat Tolerance in Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Using Transcriptome Data

“…KEGG analysis revealed that most of the genes in the turquoise and yellow modules were significantly enriched in the Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and MAPK signaling pathway, respectively. Remarkably, Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway has also been demonstrated to be involved in stress response in humans (Schwaiger et al, 2016), renal MDCK I cells (Rasmussen et al, 2018), chicken thymus (Zhou et al, 2018), and rats (Li et al, 2013). This finding suggested that the turquoise module genes may be involved in the biological process of heat stress in buffaloes as well.…”

Genomic Variations and Signatures of Selection in Wuhua Yellow Chicken

“…Accordingly, it is a safe immunostimulator in chickens. IL11RA encodes the IL-11 receptor, and mutations in this gene cause autosomal recessive Crouzon-like craniosynostosis [59] and affect thymus immune function [60]. VEGFC (vascular endothelial growth factor C), is a determinant of the lymphatic vessel density, tumor staging, and lymph node metastasis and is associated with the failure of nasopharyngeal carcinoma to respond to radiotherapy [61].…”