Exploring Differential Transcriptome between Jejunal and Cecal Tissue of Broiler Chickens

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Genomics
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Understanding tissue-specific gene expression is crucial for poultry health and productivity.
• The jejunum and cecum have distinct physiological roles in nutrient absorption and microbial activity.
• Limited functional genomic data exists for chicken jejunum and cecum at the transcriptomic level.

Purpose of the Study:

• To perform an exploratory functional analysis of differential gene expression in chicken jejunum and cecum.
• To identify tissue-specific biological functions and pathways in the chicken gastrointestinal tract.
• To provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying jejunum and cecum functions.

Main Methods:

• Transcriptome microarray analysis of jejunum and cecum mucosa from 19-day-old Ross 308 male chickens.
• RNA extraction and subsequent microarray analysis.
• Functional enrichment analysis using DAVID (Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery) and GSEA (Gene Set Enrichment Analysis) software.

Main Results:

• Jejunum: Enriched annotations for cell membrane components, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling, peroxisome, lipid metabolism, and novel gluconeogenesis pathways.
• Cecum: Enriched annotations for disulfide bonds, cysteine and methionine metabolism, glycoproteins, cell cycle, and extracellular matrix (ECM).
• GSEA confirmed jejunum pathways (peroxisome, PPAR) and identified immune regulation, tryptophan/histidine metabolism, and renin-angiotensin system gene sets; cecum analysis revealed cell cycle, ECM receptor interaction, and focal adhesion gene sets.

Conclusions:

• Differential gene expression analysis revealed distinct functional profiles for chicken jejunum and cecum.
• Identified tissue-specific pathways related to metabolism, cell structure, and physiological processes.
• Findings highlight key molecular aspects of gut tissue function, offering targets for future research in poultry science.