Transcriptome Analysis of the Thymus in Short-Term Calorie-Restricted Mice Using RNA-seq

Abstract

Calorie restriction (CR), which is a factor that expands lifespan and an important player in immune response, is an effective protective method against cancer development. Thymus, which plays a critical role in the development of the immune system, reacts to nutrition deficiency quickly. RNA-seq-based transcriptome sequencing was performed to thymus tissues of MMTV-TGF-α mice subjected to ad libitum (AL), chronic calorie restriction (CCR), and intermittent calorie restriction (ICR) diets in this study. Three cDNA libraries were sequenced using Illumina HiSeq™ 4000 to produce 100 base pair-end reads. On average, 105 million clean reads were mapped and in total 6091 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified (p < 0.05). These DEGs were clustered into Gene Ontology (GO) categories. The expression pattern revealed by RNA-seq was validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis of four important genes, which are leptin, ghrelin, Igf1, and adinopectin. RNA-seq data has been deposited in NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database (GSE95371). We report the use of RNA sequencing to find DEGs that are affected by different feeding regimes in the thymus.

Age‐related thymic involution: Mechanisms and functional impact

“…Thymus transcriptome analysis in short-term CR mice showed that CR altered catalytic activity and metabolic processes (Omeroglu Ulu et al, 2018). Short-term CR also altered the expression of leptin, ghrelin, Igf1, and adiponectin, some of which were reported to be associated with age-related thymic involution (Omeroglu Ulu et al, 2018).…”

“…Another study conducted on nonhuman primates obtained similar results; the authors showed that long‐term CR effectively improves naïve T‐cell production and preserves T‐cell receptor repertoire diversity (Messaoudi et al, 2006). Thymus transcriptome analysis in short‐term CR mice showed that CR altered catalytic activity and metabolic processes (Omeroglu Ulu et al, 2018). Short‐term CR also altered the expression of leptin, ghrelin, Igf1, and adiponectin, some of which were reported to be associated with age‐related thymic involution (Omeroglu Ulu et al, 2018).…”

The role of thymic epithelium in thymus development and age-related thymic involution

“…CR decreases the expression of pro-EMT and proadipogenic regulators, such as fibroblast-specific protein-1, FoxC2, PPARγ, and FABP4, in the thymus of aged mice (91). The increase in the expression of molecules related to the prevention of thymic involution, including ghrelin, leptin, and Igf1, in the thymus of short-term calorie-restricted mice has also been reported (91,92). A recent study on healthy humans has reported that a 14% reduction in calorie intake enhances thymic mass and function (93).…”