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Transcriptome analysis reveals that gga-miR-2954 inhibits the inflammatory response against Eimeria tenella infection
Hailiang Yu1, Jianqiang Tang1, Liyue Dong1
1College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
Abstract:
Coccidiosis is an important parasitic protozoan disease in poultry farming, causing huge economic losses in the global poultry industry every year. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of RNA macromolecules that play important roles in the immune response to pathogens. However, the expression profiles and functions of miRNAs during Eimeria tenella (E. tenella) infection in chickens remain mostly uncharacterized. In this study, high-throughput sequencing of cecal tissues of control (JC), resistant (JR), and susceptible (JS) chickens led to the identification of 35 differentially expressed miRNAs among the three groups. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the differentially expressed miRNAs were mainly associated with the TGF-beta, NF-kB, and Jak-STAT signaling pathways. Notably, gga-miR-2954 was found to be significantly upregulated after coccidial infection. Functional analysis showed that gga-miR-2954 inhibited the production of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-8 in sporozoite-stimulated DF-1 cells. Mechanistically, we found that gga-miR-2954 targeted the RORC gene and that RORC promoted the inflammatory response in sporozoite-stimulated DF-1 cells. In conclusion, our study was the first to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in chicken cecal tissue during E. tenella infection and found that gga-miR-2954 regulates the host immune response to coccidial infection in chickens by targeting the RORC gene.
Insights
This study identifies microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in chicken coccidiosis immunity. Gga-miR-2954 was found to regulate the host immune response by targeting the RORC gene, offering insights into poultry disease resistance.
Area of Science:
- Poultry immunology
- Parasitic disease research
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Coccidiosis, caused by Eimeria tenella, leads to significant economic losses in poultry farming.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial regulators of immune responses, but their role in chicken coccidiosis is largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize miRNA expression profiles and functions during Eimeria tenella infection in chickens.
- To identify specific miRNAs and their target genes involved in the host immune response to coccidiosis.
Main Methods:
- High-throughput sequencing of chicken cecal tissues from control, resistant, and susceptible groups.
- Functional enrichment analysis of differentially expressed miRNAs.
- In vitro functional assays using DF-1 cells to assess gga-miR-2954's role in cytokine production and gene targeting.
Main Results:
- Identified 35 differentially expressed miRNAs, primarily linked to TGF-beta, NF-kB, and Jak-STAT signaling pathways.
- Discovered gga-miR-2954 is upregulated post-infection and inhibits inflammatory cytokine production (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-8).
- Confirmed gga-miR-2954 targets RORC, which promotes inflammation in response to E. tenella sporozoites.
Conclusions:
- This is the first study to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in chicken cecal tissue during E. tenella infection.
- Gga-miR-2954 plays a regulatory role in the chicken immune response to coccidiosis by targeting the RORC gene.
