乏情和发情初产母猪卵巢microRNA差异表达分析

为了探索卵巢microRNA （miRNA）在初产母猪生殖调控中的作用,本研究利用Illumina高通量测序技术检测了乏情和发情初产母猪卵巢miRNA的表达谱,并对表达量较高且差异显著的miRNA进行生物信息学分析。结果显示,本研究构建的两个small RNA文库共鉴定出503个miRNAs,其中已知的303个,新预测的200个。在已知的miRNA中,ssc-miR-10b在两个文库中的表达量最高,其次为ssc-miR-143-3p和ssc-miR-26a;在新预测的miRNA中,chr13_2637_mature在两个文库中的表达量最高,其次为chr8_9994_mature。与发情母猪相比,共有145个miRNAs发生显著变化（read counts>10,∣log₂（fold-change）∣>1）,上调114个,下调31个。在进一步筛选的31个表达量较高且差异显著的miRNAs（read counts>1 000,∣log₂（fold-change）∣>1）中,新预测的chr13_2585_mature上调倍数最高,且只在乏情母猪卵巢中表达。31个miRNAs共预测到7 388个靶基因,KEGG信号通路分析显示,有2 788个靶基因注释到了297个KEGG通路,前20个最富集的通路部分与生殖过程或生殖活动调控相关,表明这31个miRNAs参与了初产母猪的生殖调控。本研究结果丰富了猪miRNA数据资源,为进一步深入研究初产母猪的繁殖性能提供了理论依据。     

Identification and comparative profiling of gonadal microRNAs in the adult pigeon (Columba livia)

ABSTRACT

1. MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNA molecules that play crucial roles in gene expression. However, the comparative profiling of testicular and ovarian microRNAs in birds are rarely reported, particularly in pigeon.

2. In this study, Illumina next-generation sequencing technology was used to sequence miRNA libraries of the gonads from six healthy adult utility pigeons. A total of 344 conserved known miRNAs and 32 novel putative miRNAs candidates were detected. Compared with those of ovaries, 130 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were identified in the testes. Among them, 70 miRNAs showed down-regulation in the ovaries, while another 60 miRNAs were up-regulated.

3. Combining the results of the expression of target gene measurements and pathway enrichment analyses, it was revealed that some DEmiRNAs from the gonad samples involved in sexual differentiation and development (such as cli-miR-210-3p and cli-miR-214-3p) could down-regulate AR (androgen receptor). Cli-miR-181b-5p, cli-miR-9622-3p and cli-miR-145-5p were highly expressed in both the ovaries and testes, which could co-target HOXC9, and were related to regulation of primary metabolic processes. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that DEmiRNAs may play biological and sex-related roles in pigeon gonads.

4. The expression profiles of testicular and ovarian miRNA in adult pigeon gonads are presented for the first time, and the findings may contribute to a better understanding of gonadal expression in poultry.     

miRNA在猪主要经济性状调控中的研究进展

microRNA（miRNA）是一类广泛存在于真核生物中的内源性单链非编码小RNA分子,长度为21~22 nt,以特异的序列互补结合方式调控基因的表达。在经典的miRNA作用机制中,miRNA通常与靶基因3'UTR种子区序列完全或不完全互补配对,从而在转录后水平调控靶基因的表达。越来越多的报道证实,miRNA还可与靶基因5'UTR区、编码区及启动子区结合,进而参与复杂的基因调控过程。随着高通量测序技术和分子生物学实验技术的发展,大量miRNA被鉴定,其参与调控的生物学机制也被逐渐揭示。大量研究表明,miRNA能够参与动物生殖、生长发育、新陈代谢和疾病调控等生物学过程,对维持正常的生命活动具有重要意义。在猪的遗传改良工作中,对主要经济性状（繁殖、生长发育、胴体肉品质、抗病等）进行改良,选育优良品种,是未来养殖业发展的必然趋势。作者就miRNA生成和作用机制及近年来在猪生殖调控、肌肉发育、脂肪沉积和抵抗疾病感染等方面的研究进行综述,为系统了解miRNA在猪重要经济性状调控中的应用提供参考,并为深入开展相关遗传育种研究工作提供依据。     

调控香猪繁殖候选miRNA筛选

研究旨在从香猪卵巢small RNA测序数据中挖掘调控香猪繁殖的microRNA （miRNA）,解析miRNA调控香猪卵巢功能及繁殖性状的分子机制,对于猪的遗传选育具有重要意义。研究选取发情期和间情期的香猪各4头,屠宰后取其卵巢组织,提取总RNA进行small RNA测序,利用生物信息学方法检测miRNA表达谱,筛选差异表达的miRNA,预测差异表达miRNA靶基因,并对靶基因进行GO功能富集和KEGG通路富集分析。结果显示,香猪卵巢组织中miRNA在染色体上呈不均匀分布,主要分布于1号染色体和X染色体上。香猪卵巢中共有627个已知猪miRNAs表达,其中有34个差异表达miRNAs,表达量前五的分别是miR-23、let-7i-5p、miR-103、miR-30e-5p和miR-1271-5p。GO功能分析结果显示,靶基因主要参与的生物学过程是细胞过程（cellular process）,主要分布于细胞（cell）,主要分子功能是结合（binding）;KEGG显著富集通路中,促性腺激素释放激素受体通路（gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor pathway）、胰岛素样生长因子通路（IGF pathway）和表皮生长因子受体信号通路（EGF receptor signaling pathway）与卵母细胞的发育成熟相关,因此推测miR-23b、let-7i-5p、miR-103、miR-30e-5p和miR-1271-5p可能参与了香猪繁殖调控。本研究初步筛选出5个可能调控香猪繁殖性能的miRNAs,可为从分子水平提高香猪产仔数提供理论基础。     

MicroRNA及其对哺乳动物繁殖的影响

卵巢功能的正常维持有赖于卵巢生殖细胞和体细胞之间的相互作用及若干卵巢自分泌和旁分泌的调节.这些调节物质调控卵巢内不同的细胞活动,包括细胞生长、分化和凋亡,从而对卵泡的发育起着至关重要的作用.Micro-RNAs(miRNAs)是一种小的、非编码、21～25 nt长的单链小分子RNA,近年来科学家们发现其在基因表达转录后水平的调控发挥了重要作用.鼠上的研究显示,miRNAs在卵母细胞成熟和卵巢卵泡发育过程中有调控功能.人上的研究也表明,miRNAs影响颗粒细胞中特定的基因表达,并参与卵巢癌的形成和发展.本文将对miRNAs的生物合成,及其在哺乳动物繁殖系统中的表达,正常和病理情况下miRNAs在繁殖系统中可能的调控作用作一综述.     

Combined microRNAome and transcriptome analysis of follicular phase and luteal phase in porcine ovaries

The aim of this study was to explore the expression difference of miRNAs and mRNAs between the follicular phase (FP) and luteal phase (LP) in porcine ovaries and provide a theoretical basis for the research on mammalian reproductive regulation. RNA‐Seq and miRNA‐Seq were used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and miRNAs (DEMs) between the FP and LP in ovaries of six sows (3‐year‐old Yorkshire pigs with similar weights and same parities). Bioinformatic analysis was used to screen potential genes and miRNAs related to porcine ovarian function. Real‐time qualitative PCR was used to validate the sequencing results. RNA‐Seq results showed that 3,078 genes were up‐regulated, and 1,444 genes were down‐regulated in the LP compared with the FP, and DEGs were significantly enriched in 242 Gene Ontology (GO) terms and 33 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. miRNA‐Seq identified 112 DEMs, of which 25 were up‐regulated and 87 were down‐regulated in the LP compared with the FP. We obtained 186 intersection genes (IGs) between the 4,522 DEGs and 2,444 target genes predicted from the 112 DEMs. After constructing a miRNA‐gene‐pathway network, we identified key miRNAs and genes including miR‐17‐3p, miR‐214, miR‐221‐5p, miR‐125b, FGF1, YWHAG, YWHAZ, FDFT1 and DHCR24, which are enriched in Hippo and PI3K‐Akt signalling pathways, and various metabolic pathways. These results indicate that these key genes and miRNAs may play important roles in the developmental transition from FP to LP in porcine ovaries and represent candidate targets for further study.     

感染产肠毒素大肠杆菌的猪小肠上皮细胞microRNA表达谱分析

试验旨在探索产肠毒素大肠杆菌（enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli，ETEC）感染猪小肠上皮细胞（IPEC-J2）诱导的microRNA （miRNA）表达谱变化，为解析宿主miRNA在ETEC感染过程中的调控作用提供理论基础。利用Illumina 6000 Novoseq SE50测序平台分别对ETEC感染前后的IPEC-J2进行高通量测序，用Bowtie与参考基因组比对，用DESeq R Package进行miRNA差异性分析。通过miRanda和RNAhybid共同预测差异表达miRNA的靶基因，对差异表达miRNA靶基因进行GO功能和KEGG通路分析。随机选取5个miRNAs，对测序结果进行实时荧光定量PCR验证。结果显示，IPEC-J2在感染前后的sRNA文库经过滤分别得到12 889 260和11 203 056条clean reads。感染前后文库中，miRNA所占比例最高，分别为73.16%和54.10%；分别有97.98%和69.83%长度为18~40 nt的sRNA可比对到参考基因组，表明测序质控良好。长度在22~24 nt的序列大部分首位碱基偏向U，2~8位点出现频率最高的碱基分别为AGCUUAU。共发现311个已知miRNAs，128个新miRNAs。在2个文库中，长度为23 nt的miRNA序列占比最高，分别为41.42%和23.56%。感染后共筛选到140个差异表达miRNAs，其中74个表达上调，66个表达下调。GO分析表明，miRNA靶基因显著富集于代谢过程、正向调节代谢过程、细胞成分或生物合成、免疫系统、细胞内部分和细胞器等功能。KEGG分析表明，差异表达miRNA靶基因显著富集于赖氨酸降解、生产IgA的肠道免疫网络、NF-κB信号通路和T细胞受体信号通路等。实时荧光定量PCR验证结果表明，随机选取的5个miRNAs表达趋势与测序结果一致，表明测序准确可靠。综上所述，IPEC-J2的miRNAs参与了ETEC感染过程，为进一步揭示调控ETEC感染的关键miRNA及其作用机制提供科学依据。     

乌头驴与三粉驴骨骼肌中miRNAs的表达鉴定与分析

试验旨在分析microRNAs （miRNAs）在德州驴骨骼肌中的表达情况,探讨小RNA （small RNA）在驴骨骼肌发育中的调控机制。采集德州驴2个品系（乌头驴和三粉驴）的背最长肌组织,构建乌头驴背最长肌（WB）和三粉驴背最长肌（SB）的small RNA测序文库并进行测序,运用生物信息学技术对WB和SB之间差异表达的miRNAs进行分析,预测和解析可能影响驴产肉性状的miRNAs,从中挑选了6个表达量较高的miRNAs,利用实时荧光定量PCR技术来验证测序结果的准确性。结果表明,在WB和SB文库中分别鉴定出保守miRNAs有982和1 149个,新miRNAs有106和143个。在WB与SB比较组中基于条件|log₂（fold_change）|≥2、P≤0.05获得17个差异表达的miRNAs,其中表达量上调的有5个,下调的有12个。通过GO注释,发现差异表达的miRNAs显著富集于调控细胞迁移分化、细胞分裂和骨骼肌细胞收缩等生物学过程（P<0.05）,并且挖掘到与驴骨骼肌发育相关的bta-miR-378d_L+1R-1_1ss22CA、bta-miR-378d_R-2,其靶向NPY1R、GPR152、BEST1、KCNH8、SPAG9等多个基因。KEGG富集结果表明,miRNAs富集于Wnt、MAPK、泛素蛋白水解系统等与骨骼肌发育相关的信号通路中,其中在Wnt信号通路中共涉及到17个差异表达miRNAs的207个靶基因,尤其以PC-5p-84483_31、hsa-miR-186-3p_R-3和cfa-miR-329b_1ss19CT的靶基因最多。实时荧光定量PCR结果与miRNAs测序结果一致,并发现除eca-miR-181b外,其他5个miRNAs在SB中的表达水平均高于WB。本研究首次对驴骨骼肌miRNAs进行转录组学分析,揭示了乌头驴和三粉驴miRNAs的表达差异,研究结果为阐明德州驴骨骼肌生长发育的分子调控机制提供参考。     

miRNA and piRNA expression profiles of breeder cock testes detected by next‐generation sequencing

miRNAs are small non‐coding regulatory RNAs that play key roles in diverse biological processes. In this study, we used the Solexa sequencing technique to profile miRNAs in breeder cock testes to illustrate their functions. A total of 663 co‐expressed miRNAs and 3,180 co‐expressed piRNAs were detected in three libraries. Based on Mir‐X^? miRNA qRT‐PCR, three miRNAs representing low, medium and high expression levels according to the sequencing results were selected randomly to validate the miRNAs' expression profiles. Results suggested that the miRNA expression profiles data could represent actual miRNA expression levels. Moreover, target genes prediction of the co‐expressed miRNAs and further Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses were performed, which revealed that some candidate miRNAs were involved in the regulation of the spermatogenesis process, spermatozoa function and testicular metabolism. In conclusion, we provided a useful resource for further elucidation of the miRNAs' regulatory role in spermatogenesis, contributing to a preliminary database for functional and molecular mechanistic studies in testicular metabolism, spermatogenesis and other testes functions.     

microRNA调控猪肌内脂肪沉积的研究进展

肌内脂肪（intramuscular fat,IMF）含量是评判猪肉品质的关键指标,其可影响猪肉的嫩度、剪切力、多汁性和风味等。微小RNA （microRNA,miRNA）是一类长度约为22 nt的短链非编码RNA,在胚胎发育、成脂分化、肌纤维形成、神经调节、免疫应答等多种生理过程中发挥重要作用。越来越多的研究表明,miRNA在猪肌内脂肪沉积过程中发挥重要调控作用,是脂质代谢的重要调控因子。作者通过归纳国内外关于miRNA调控猪肌内脂肪沉积的相关研究发现,miR-34a、miR-125a-5p、miR-32-5p等通过靶向作用转录因子Krüppel样因子（Krüppel-like factors,KLF）家族成员调控猪肌内脂肪沉积,miR-130a通过靶向作用过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体（peroxisome proliferator activated receptor,PPAR）家族成员调控猪肌内脂肪沉积,miR-34a、miR-17-5p和miR-125a-5p等通过靶向作用其他家族成员,如长链酯酰辅酶A合成酶4（acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 4,ACSL4）、核受体共激活因子3（nuclear receptor coactivator 3,NCOA3）等来调控猪肌内脂肪沉积。然而miRNA调控猪肌内脂肪的具体作用机制尚不完全清楚,还需要进一步探究。作者通过梳理目前已经证实的与猪肌内脂肪沉积相关的miRNA,整理相关miRNA的靶基因以及主要作用通路,以期为筛选肌内脂肪相关miRNA提供参考,为改善肉质提供新的思路和策略,为阐明miRNA在猪脂质代谢中的作用机制提供参考。     

沐川乌骨黑鸡肌内脂肪沉积相关microRNAs的筛查与鉴定

试验旨在挖掘高肌内脂肪（IMF）含量和低IMF含量鸡胸肌中差异表达的microRNA（miRNA）（DEM）,以期从miRNA角度探究鸡IMF沉积的分子调控机制。以120只沐川乌骨黑鸡为研究对象,采用高通量测序分别完成3个IMF含量极高（H组）和极低（L组）鸡胸肌组织的miRNA测序,测序结果经生物信息学分析,鉴定H和L组中差异表达的miRNAs,随机选择6个miRNAs进行实时荧光定量PCR验证。IMF含量测定结果表明,每只鸡平均100 g胸肌中IMF含量为4.08 g,H和L组IMF含量存在极显著差异（P<0.01）;6个测序文库结果表明,每个测序文库获得Clean reads均超过10 000 000条,Clean reads占Raw reads的百分比>93%,21~23 nt的small RNA（sRNA）数量占总sRNA的百分比>50%,其中22 nt长度的sRNA所占比例最高,平均GC碱基含量为48.95%,获得的测序数据可靠;6个测序文库中sRNA注释为rRNA、tRNA、snRNA、snoRNA以及重复序列的比例较低,分别为2.74%、1.85%、6.21%、1.58%、2.82%和2.81%;6个测序文库共鉴定已知miRNAs成熟体578个,miRNAs前体500个,鉴定差异表达的miRNAs 23个,其中H组中上调表达的miRNAs有16个,下调表达的miRNAs有7个;miRNA靶基因预测分析结果表明,23个差异表达miRNAs共预测靶基因628个;GO分析结果表明,共鉴定了30个显著富集GO条目,包括6个细胞成分、13个生物学过程和11个分子功能;KEGG富集分析表明,差异表达miRNA的靶基因显著富集于胰岛素信号通路、半乳糖代谢、脂肪细胞因子信号通路、鞘糖脂生物合成、糖酵解及淀粉和蔗糖代谢;实时荧光定量PCR结果表明,gga-miR-124a-3p、gga-let-7a-5p在H组中表达量极显著或显著高于L组（P<0.01;P<0.05）;gga-miR-19a-3p在H组中表达量极显著低于L组（P<0.01）,gga-miR-6553-3p和gga-miR-128-3p在H组中的表达量显著低于L组（P<0.05）,其表达趋势与测序结果一致。以上结果表明,差异表达的miRNA gga-miR-124a-3p、gga-let-7a-5p、gga-miR-6553-3p、gga-miR-128-3p和gga-miR-19a-3p参与脂肪生成,是鸡IMF含量调控重要的候选miRNAs,为阐释miRNA调控鸡IMF沉积分子机制提供理论基础。     

MicroRNA expression profiling of cat and dog kidneys

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a role in the pathogenesis of certain diseases and may serve as biomarkers. Here, we present the first analysis of miRNA expression in the kidneys of healthy cats and dogs. Kidneys were divided into renal cortex (CO) and medulla (MD), and RNA sequence analysis was performed using the mouse genome as a reference. A total of 277, 276, 295, and 297 miRNAs were detected in cat CO, cat MD, dog CO, and dog MD, respectively. By comparing the expression ratio of CO to MD, we identified highly expressed miRNAs in each tissue as follows: 41 miRNAs including miR-192-5p in cat CO; 45 miRNAs including miR-323-3p in dog CO; 78 miRNAs including miR-20a-5p in cat MD; and 11 miRNAs including miR-132-5p in dog MD. Further, the target mRNAs of these miRNAs were identified. These data provide veterinary medicine critical information regarding renal miRNA expression.     

Identification and Characterization of Pig Embryo MicroRNAs by Solexa Sequencing

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, non‐coding RNAs of approximately 22 nucleotides in length that regulate gene expression by binding to the 3′‐untranslated regions of target mRNAs. It is now clear that miRNAs are involved in many biological processes, including proliferation, differentiation and regulation of gene expression during early embryonic development. The miRBase 16.0 (2010) shows that there are 175, 673, 408 and 1048 annotated miRNAs for Caenorhabditis elegans, Mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus and Homo sapiens, respectively. However, there are only 211 miRNAs described for Sus scrofa. In particular, the full set of miRNAs and their expression patterns are still poorly understood in the embryo. Therefore, we combined Solexa sequencing with computational techniques to analyse the sequences and relative expression levels of S. scrofa miRNAs at embryonic day 33 (E33). Of the distinct miRNAs identified, 76 previously known miRNAs and 194 candidate miRNAs were identified in head, and 77 known miRNAs and 130 predicted candidate miRNAs were identified in organ region. Furthermore, we performed additional investigation for identifying the potential target mRNAs using PicTar and TargetScan. Concurrent function analysis suggested that highly expressed miRNAs are mostly involved in the development of nerves, cerebrum, muscle and organs. Our results provide useful information for the investigation into embryonic miRNAs of pig and provide a valuable resource for investigators interested in the regulation of embryonic development in pigs and other animals.     

Functional microRNA screening for dietary vitamin E regulation of abdominal fat deposition in broilers

ABSTRACT

1. Functional microRNA (miRNA) screening for abdominal fat tissue with different dietary vitamin E (VE) levels was performed to reveal miRNAs, genes and metabolic pathways involved in abdominal fat deposition in broilers.

2. A total of 240, one-day-old healthy female chicks were randomly allocated into five dietary treatments containing either 0, 20, 50, 75 or 100 IU DL-α-tocopherol acetate. The sequencing of miRNAs from abdominal fat tissues was performed. The target genes of miRNAs were predicted and enrichment analysis for these genes was performed. Diets supplemented with 50 IU VE significantly diminished abdominal fat deposition in broilers at day 35 of age.

3. A total of 29 miRNAs were differentially expressed between control and 50 IU VE treatment. Ten of the 23 target genes were enriched in four signalling pathways: tight junction, SNARE interactions in vesicular transport, regulation of autophagy and proteasome.

4. This study identified miRNA, target genes and pathways in dietary VE treatment for broilers, providing new insights into the miRNA regulation of abdominal fat deposition in broilers.     

乙型脑炎病毒感染小鼠原代神经元细胞的miRNA表达谱差异分析

研究乙型脑炎病毒（Japanese encephalitis virus，JEV）感染后小鼠原代神经元细胞miRNA的表达谱差异，初步探讨JEV与宿主在miRNA水平的相互作用。分别提取JEV感染48 h后的小鼠原代神经元细胞和未染毒组细胞，高通量测序分析miRNA的表达谱并进行差异分析，选取显著差异表达的miRNA进行实时定量PCR验证。结果筛选出26个差异表达显著的miRNA，其中，18个表达上调，8个表达下调。小鼠原代脑神经元细胞中mmu-miR-21a-3p、mmu-miR-223-5p、mmu-miR-147-3p、mmu-miR-155-5p和mmu-miR-146a-5p的表达促进JEV-E基因在神经元细胞中表达，而mmu-miR-301a的表达抑制JEV-E基因的表达。神经元细胞中miRNA的表达影响JEV的复制，为进一步研究JEV致神经功能异常机制提供研究方向和理论支持。     

Analysis of the miRNA Expression Profiles in the Primary Neurons of Mice Infected with Japanese Encephalitis Virus

The interaction between JEV and the host at the miRNAs level was preliminarily explored by studying the miRNAs expression profiles of primary neurons in mice infected with JEV. Total RNA of JEV-infected and uninfected primary neurons of the suckling mice was extracted individually by Trizol and then analyzed miRNA expression profiles by high-throughput sequencing analysis. Significantly differentially expressed miRNAs were selected for verification by real-time quantitative PCR. Through bioinformatics analysis, 26 miRNAs with significant expression differences were screened out, among which 18 miRNAs were up-regulated and 8 miRNAs were down-regulated. The results of quantitative real-time PCR of the JEV-E gene indicated that the expressions of mir-21a-3p mir-223-5p mir-147-3p mir-155-5p and mir-146a-5p could promote the expression of JEV-E gene in neurons, while the expression of mir-301a was just on the contrast. The expression of miRNAs in primary neurons could affect the replication of JEV. This study provided the theoretical basis and direction for further studies on the regulatory function of miRNAs in the mechanism of neural dysfunction induced by JEV.