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A Quantitative Detection Method for MicroRNAs in the Kidney of an Ischemic Kidney Injury Mouse Model
Published on: September 11, 2020
Integrating miRNA and mRNA expression profiles in response to heat stress-induced injury in rat small intestine
Jin Yu1, Fenghua Liu, Peng Yin
1College of Veterinary, China Agricultural University, 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
The molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of heat stress in the small intestine remain undefined. Furthermore, little information is available concerning changes in microRNA (miRNA) expression following heat stress. The present study sought to evaluate miRNA and mRNA expression profiles in the rat small intestine in response to heat stress. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 2 h of heat stress daily for ten consecutive days. Rats were sacrificed at specific time points immediately following heat treatment, and morphological changes in the small intestine were determined. The miRNA and mRNA expression profiles from sample of small intestine were evaluated by microarray analysis. Heat stress caused pronounced morphological damage in the rat small intestine, most severe within the jejunum after 3 days of heat treatment. A mRNA microarray analysis found 270 genes to be up-regulated and 122 genes down-regulated (P ≤ 0.01, ≥2.0-fold change) in the jejunum after heat treatment. A miRNA microarray analysis found 18 miRNAs to be up-regulated and 11 down-regulated in the jejunum after heat treatment (P ≤ 0.05). Subsequent bioinformatic analyses of the differentially expressed mRNAs and miRNAs were carried out to integrate miRNA and mRNA expression and revealed that alterations in mRNA following heat stress were negatively correlated with miRNA expression. These findings significantly advance our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of heat stress-induced injury in the small intestine, specifically with regard to miRNAs.
Insights
Heat stress damages the rat small intestine, altering messenger RNA (mRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) expression. These molecular changes reveal new insights into heat-induced gastrointestinal injury mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Molecular Biology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- The molecular basis of heat stress pathophysiology in the small intestine is not well understood.
- Limited data exists on microRNA (miRNA) expression changes following heat exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate miRNA and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression profiles in the rat small intestine under heat stress conditions.
- To elucidate the regulatory roles of miRNAs in heat stress-induced small intestinal injury.
Main Methods:
- Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to daily heat stress for 10 consecutive days.
- Morphological assessments of the small intestine were performed.
- Microarray analysis was used to evaluate miRNA and mRNA expression profiles in the jejunum.
Main Results:
- Heat stress induced significant morphological damage in the small intestine, particularly in the jejunum by day 3.
- Microarray analysis identified 270 upregulated and 122 downregulated mRNAs (P ≤ 0.01) and 18 upregulated and 11 downregulated miRNAs (P ≤ 0.05) in the jejunum.
- Bioinformatic analysis indicated a negative correlation between mRNA and miRNA expression alterations.
Conclusions:
- Heat stress significantly impacts small intestine morphology and gene expression.
- Differential expression of miRNAs and mRNAs provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of heat stress injury.
- Findings highlight the regulatory role of miRNAs in the pathophysiology of heat stress-induced small intestinal damage.
