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.     

高能饲粮对育成期蛋鸡肝脏miRNA表达谱的影响

本研究利用高能和低能饲粮饲喂育成期蛋鸡,运用small RNA测序方法对肝脏中miR-NA进行检测,对其表达量进行分析,对差异表达miRNA进行靶基因预测,并对差异表达的预测靶基因进行基因本体论(GO)功能和京都基因与基因组百科全书(KEGG)信号通路富集分析.结果表明:与低能组相比,高能组有2个miRNA表达显著上调...     

猪GV/MⅡ期卵母细胞miRNAs表达谱及Npm2基因相关miRNAs筛选

旨在探索体外成熟前后猪卵母细胞miRNAs表达谱，并筛选参与调控Npm2基因表达的miRNAs。本试验回收屠宰场猪卵巢，收集GV期卵母细胞，经体外成熟培养后获得MⅡ期卵母细胞，分别提取约130个GV期和MⅡ期卵母细胞总RNA进行Illumina HiSeqTM 2500测序，获取miRNA测序数据，每个处理重复3次，筛选差异表达microRNAs并进行靶基因GO和KEGG聚类分析。结果表明，本研究成功构建了GV期和MⅡ期猪卵母细胞miRNAs表达谱，GV期和MⅡ期卵母细胞差异表达miRNAs有95个，具有相似表达模式的miRNA聚为一类，对95个差异表达miRNAs进行靶基因预测，共得到3 967个靶基因，经GO和KEGG富集分析表明，这些靶基因被富集于5 194个GO条目和212个信号通路，其中参与卵母细胞减数分裂成熟的信号通路有2个。在差异表达miRNAs中筛选到5个与Npm2基因相关的miRNAs。采用qRT-PCR对其中2个miRNAs进行验证，证实其表达趋势与测序结果一致。本研究筛选了GV期和MⅡ期卵母细胞差异表达miRNAs，推测差异表达的miRNAs可能通过代谢、卵母细胞减数分裂相关通路、孕激素介导的卵母细胞成熟通路等途径在卵母细胞体外成熟过程中发挥作用，并筛选出调控Npm2基因表达的miRNAs，研究结果可为进一步阐明miRNA对Npm2基因的调控及其在卵母细胞成熟过程中的作用提供依据。     

Integrated analysis of miRNA–mRNA interaction in ovaries of Turpan Black Sheep during follicular and luteal phases

To investigate the regulatory mechanism of the follicular–luteal phase transition in Turpan black sheep (Ovis aries), the genome-wide expression patterns of microRNAs (miRNAs) and genes were investigated in ovaries of six sheep (3 years and single lamb with 3 consecutive births) during follicular and luteal phases of the oestrous cycle. Bioinformatic analysis was used to screen potential miRNAs and genes related to Turpan black sheep ovarian function. RT-qPCR was used to validate the sequencing results. In total, we identified 139 known and 71 novel miRNAs in the two phases with miRNA-seq, and a total of 19 miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed, of which 7 were up-regulated and 12 were down-regulated in the follicular phase compared with luteal phase. A total of 150 genes were significantly differentially expressed, including 63 up-regulated and 87 down-regulated in the follicular phase compared with the luteal phase by RNA-seq data analysis. Those DEGs were significantly enriched in 103 GO terms and several KEGG pathways, including metabolic pathway, ovarian steroidogenesis, steroid hormone biosynthesis and oestrogen signalling pathway. In addition, we created a miRNA–mRNA regulatory network to further elucidate the mechanism of follicular–luteal transition. Finally, we identified key miRNAs and genes including miR-143, miR-99a, miR-150, miR-27a, miR-125b, STAR, STAT1, which might play crucial roles in reproductive hormone biosynthesis and follicular development. The miRNA–mRNA interactive network clearly illustrates molecular basis involving in follicular–luteal transition.     

Comparative expression profile of microRNAs and piRNAs in three ruminant species testes using next‐generation sequencing

microRNA (miRNA) and piwi‐interacting RNA (piRNA) are two classes small non‐coding regulatory RNAs that play crucial roles in multiple biological processes such as spermatogenesis. However, there are no published studies on conjoint analysis of miRNA and piRNA profiles among cattle, yak and their interspecies (the dzo) using sequencing technology. Next‐generation sequencing technology was used to profile miRNAs and piRNAs among those three ruminants to elucidate their functions. A total of 119, 14 and six differentially expressed miRNAs were obtained in cattle vs. dzo, cattle vs. yak and yak vs. dzo comparison groups, while there were 873, 1,065 and 1,158 differentially expressed piRNAs in those three comparison groups. The expression of three miRNAs was validated in the three ruminants, and the results suggested that the miRNA expression profiles data could represent actual miRNA expression levels. Moreover, the putative targets of differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted by their own genome, it is worth to note that both the cattle and yak genome were used for dzo, then the targets were subjected to GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis, revealing the likely roles for these differentially expressed miRNAs in spermatogenesis. In conclusion, this study provided a useful resource for further elucidation of the miRNAs and piRNAs regulatory roles in spermatogenesis. It may also facilitate the development of therapeutic strategies for dzo reproduction research.     

Characterization of microRNA profile in mammary tissue of dairy and beef breed heifers

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non‐coding RNAs that participate in the regulation of gene expression. Their role during mammary gland development is still largely unknown. In this study, we performed a microarray analysis to identify miRNAs associated with high mammogenic potential of the bovine mammary gland. We identified 54 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs between the mammary tissue of dairy (Holstein‐Friesian, HF) and beef (Limousin, LM) postpubertal heifers. Fifty‐two miRNAs had higher expression in the mammary tissue of LM heifers. The expression of the top candidate miRNAs (bta‐miR‐10b, bta‐miR‐29b, bta‐miR‐101, bta‐miR‐375, bta‐miR‐2285t, bta‐miR‐146b, bta‐let7b, bta‐miR‐107, bta‐miR‐1434‐3p) identified in the microarray experiment was additionally evaluated by qPCR. Enrichment analyses for targeted genes revealed that the major differences between miRNA expression in the mammary gland of HF versus LM were associated with the regulation of signalling pathways that are crucial for mammary gland development, such as TGF‐beta, insulin, WNT and inflammatory pathways. Moreover, a number of genes potentially targeted by significantly differentially expressed miRNAs were associated with the activity of mammary stem cells. These data indicate that the high developmental potential of the mammary gland in dairy cattle, leading to high milk productivity, depends also on a specific miRNA expression pattern.     

Identification of candidate miRNAs and expression profile of yak oocytes before and after in vitro maturation by high‐throughput sequencing

Small RNA represents several unique non‐coding RNA classes that have important function in a wide range of biological processes including development of germ cells and early embryonic, cell differentiation, cell proliferation and apoptosis in diverse organisms. However, little is known about their expression profiles and effects in yak oocytes maturation and early development. To investigate the function of small RNAs in the maturation process of yak oocyte and early development, two small RNA libraries of oocytes were constructed from germinal vesicle stage (GV) and maturation in vitro to metaphase II‐arrested stage (M II) and then sequenced using small RNA high‐throughput sequencing technology. A total of 9,742,592 and 12,168,523 clean reads were obtained from GV and M II oocytes, respectively. In total, 801 and 1,018 known miRNAs were acquired from GV and M II oocytes, and 75 miRNAs were found to be significantly differentially expressed: 47 miRNAs were upregulated and 28 miRNAs were downregulated in the M II oocytes compared to the GV stage. Among the upregulated miRNAs, miR‐342 has the largest fold change (9.25‐fold). Six highly expressed miRNAs (let‐7i, miR‐10b, miR‐10c, miR‐143, miR‐146b and miR‐148) were validated by real‐time quantitative PCR (RT‐qPCR) and consistent with the sequencing results. Furthermore, the expression patterns of two miRNAs and their potential targets were analysed in different developmental stages of oocytes and early embryos. This study provides the first miRNA profile in the mature process of yak oocyte. Seventy‐five miRNAs are expressed differentially in GV and M II oocytes as well as among different development stages of early embryos, suggesting miRNAs involved in regulating oocyte maturation and early development of yak. These results showed specific miRNAs in yak oocytes had dynamic changes during meiosis. Further functional and mechanistic studies on the miRNAs during meiosis may beneficial to understanding the role of miRNAs on meiotic division.     

成年滩羊和小尾寒羊皮肤毛囊差异表达miRNA的筛选

为比较miRNA在小尾寒羊和滩羊皮肤毛囊中的表达差异,本研究利用高通量测序技术分析了成年滩羊(TY_1)和小尾寒羊(XWHY_1)皮肤毛囊组织中miRNAs的表达谱,在2个品种绵羊皮肤毛囊组织中共鉴定出561个miRNAs,其中包括138个已知和423个新发现的miRNAs。鉴定出的miRNAs进行表达量差异分析发现,在TY_1与XWHY_1共筛选到63个上调和16个下调的miRNAs。对差异表达miRNA靶基因预测后与基因本体数据库(GO)和京都基因与基因组百科全书(KEGG)比对,分别获得靶基因的注释信息为3 886个和4 449个。GO统计发现,差异表达miRNA的靶基因主要参与代谢过程、催化活性、细胞进程和细胞组分等;而KEGG通路分析表明,4 449个靶基因富集到113个信号通路上,其中在嘌呤代谢、内吞作用和糖酵解/糖异生等信号通路上富集显著。综上,在小尾寒羊和滩羊皮肤毛囊中筛选到的差异表达miRNA可能通过调控其靶基因最终参与了绵羊皮肤毛囊的发育。     

羊传染性脓疱病毒感染山羊皮肤成纤维上皮细胞差异表达miRNA分析

旨在研究羊传染性脓疱病毒（orf virus，orfv）感染山羊皮肤成纤维细胞（goat skin fibroblasts cell，GSF）对GSF细胞microRNA（miRNA）表达谱影响，探究miRNA在orfv感染过程中的作用及调控机制。分别提取感染和未感染orfv的GSF细胞总RNA，构建miRNA文库，利用高通量测序技术进行miRNA差异表达分析，对差异表达miRNA靶基因进行预测，并进行GO和KEGG分析，随机选取10个差异miRNA进行RT-qPCR验证。结果显示，orfv感染组和未感染GSF细胞组相比共有678个显著差异表达的miRNA（fold change≥1.5），其中，上调表达miRNA有509个，下调表达miRNA有169个，uniq_miRNA的Venn图分析显示，感染组和对照组共有的miRNA仅占8.21%；GO和KEGG分析显示，差异表达miRNA主要参与脂质代谢、受体及细胞因子信号转导等细胞生物学过程，RT-qPCR验证结果与高通量测序结果一致。本研究结果表明，orfv感染GSF细胞对其编码的miRNA有显著影响，获得大量GSF细胞编码的与orfv感染相关的差异miRNA，为进一步从宿主miRNA层面揭示orfv感染和致病机制提供了参考依据。     

miR‐26a suppresses autophagy in swine Sertoli cells by targeting ULK2

A large number of microRNAs (miRNAs) have been detected from porcine testicular tissues thanks to the development of high‐throughput sequencing technology. However, the regulatory roles of most identified miRNAs in swine testicular development or spermatogenesis are poorly understood. In our previous study, ULK2 (uncoordinated‐51‐like kinase 2) was predicted as a target gene of miR‐26a. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of miR‐26a in swine Sertoli cell autophagy. The relative expression of miR‐26a and ULK2 levels has a significant negative correlation (R² = .5964, p ≤ .01) in nine developmental stages of swine testicular tissue. Dual‐luciferase reporter assay results show that miR‐26a directly targets the 3′UTR of the ULK2 gene (position 618–624). In addition, both the mRNA and protein expression of ULK2 were downregulated by miR‐26a in swine Sertoli cells. These results indicate that miR‐26a targets the ULK2 gene and downregulates its expression in swine Sertoli cells. Based on the expression of marker genes (LC3, p62 and Beclin‐1), overexpression of miR‐26a or knock‐down of ULK2 inhibits swine Sertoli cell autophagy. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that miR‐26a suppresses autophagy in swine Sertoli cells by targeting ULK2.     

幼龄和成年太行山羊附睾头差异竞争性内源RNAs机制分析

旨在筛选出幼龄和成年太行山羊附睾头中差异表达的长链非编码RNAs（lncRNAs）、微小RNAs（miRNAs）和mRNAs,构建太行山羊附睾头中免疫相关基因调控的竞争性内源RNAs（ceRNAs）网络。本研究选取健康状况良好、体重相近的幼龄（2月龄）和成年太行山羊（2周岁）公羊各3只,去势采集其附睾头组织进行全转录组测序,用DESeq2软件筛选出幼龄和成年太行山羊附睾头差异mRNAs、lncRNAs和miRNAs。利用miRanda软件和R-package（reshape2、dplyr、tidyr）,基于ceRNA-score原理分析得到差异ceRNAs表达谱,对预测所得具有ceRNAs关系的mRNAs进行GO和KEGG富集分析,并绘制得到太行山羊附睾头免疫相关ceRNAs网络。最后,各随机挑选8个mRNAs、miRNAs和lncRNAs,并通过qRT-PCR验证全转录组测序结果的准确性。根据分析结果,以幼龄太行山羊附睾头为对照,成年山羊附睾头差异表达mRNAs有6 461个,其中上调2 997个、下调3 464个;差异表达lncRNAs共有1 147个,其中703个上调、444个下调;差异表达miRNAs共有182个,其中81个上调、101个下调。共得到具有ceRNAs调控关系的lncRNAs 366个,其中上调213个,下调153个;mRNAs有3 131个,其中1 253个上调,1 878个下调;miRNAs有140个,其中48个上调,92个下调。分析具有ceRNAs机制的基因发现,表达量显著上调的与免疫相关的mRNAs：淋巴细胞抗原6复合位点蛋白G5B（LY6G5B）、脂质运载蛋白9（LCN9）、解整合素金属蛋白酶28（ADAM28）和粘蛋白15（MUC15）基因在成年太行山羊附睾头表达量高,且极显著高于幼龄太行山羊（P<0.01）。GO和KEGG富集分析表明,具有ceRNAs机制的差异表达基因富集在内质网蛋白加工通路、蛋白质输出通路、粘蛋白型O-聚糖生物合成通路、细胞外基质受体相互作用通路等。qRT-PCR验证结果表明,除chi-miR-320-3p外,其余差异表达的mRNAs、lncRNAs和miRNAs表达趋势与全转录组测序结果一致。附睾头免疫相关ceRNAs网络分析表明,lncRNA-MSTRG.22929.11、lncRNA-MSTRG.57822.5、lncRNA-MSTRG.26758.1、lncRNA-MSTRG.12113.3、lncRNA-MSTRG.59930.2等lncRNAs作为ceRNAs可以调控附睾头免疫相关基因表达。本研究筛选出了幼龄和成年太行山羊附睾头差异ceRNAs,挖掘并绘制了免疫相关的关键ceRNAs网络,这些lncRNAs作为ceRNAs可为太行山羊附睾头免疫调控机制研究提供参考依据。     

鸡白痢沙门菌感染雏鸡的骨髓miRNA表达谱分析

旨在探究鸡白痢沙门菌(Salmonella enterica serovar Pullorum,S.Pullorum)感染雏鸡后骨髓miRNA的差异表达特征,为深入了解鸡白痢沙门菌的致病机制提供理论基础。将7日龄SPF雏鸡随机分为两组,分别口服鸡白痢沙门菌和PBS,于感染24 h后采集骨髓进行miRNA测序,筛选差异倍数≥2且P值≤0.05的差异表达miRNAs进行靶基因预测以及GO、KEGG富集分析,随机选取6个miRNAs进行qRT-PCR验证,构建与免疫过程相关的miRNA-mRNA靶点网络。通过miRNA测序,共获得20个已知的差异表达miRNAs,其中11个上调,9个下调。qRT-PCR结果表明,miRNA变化趋势与测序结果一致。GO分析结果表明,差异表达基因主要富集在膜运输、信号转导、免疫系统、碳水化合物代谢、糖类的生物合成和代谢等,KEGG的信号通路主要富集在Notch信号通路、Hedgehog信号通路、PPAR信号通路、AMPK信号通路、Hippo信号通路等,miRNA-mRNA网络互作发现,gga-miR-1466和gga-miR-6643-5p可能是参与免疫过程相关的关键miRNA。本研究解析了鸡白痢沙门菌感染雏鸡的骨髓miRNA表达谱特征,为了解鸡白痢沙门菌和鸡之间相互作用的复杂分子致病机制提供了新的见解,为防控鸡白痢沙门菌感染提供了新策略。     

鸭茅响应水淹胁迫的miRNA差异表达分析

水淹胁迫是限制我国西南地区鸭茅产量和品质提升的主要环境因子,已经成为一种不容忽视的非生物胁迫。鉴定鸭茅耐涝相关的功能基因,并探究其调控机制是鸭茅种质创新,提高鸭茅耐涝能力的必要途径。以鸭茅耐涝品种“滇北”为试验材料,分别经水淹胁迫处理0、8和24 h后,利用Illumina Hiseq测序平台对鸭茅叶片进行小RNA测序。结果表明,在水淹胁迫处理下共鉴定得到208个差异表达基因（DEGs）,经过筛选后有38个基因上调表达,34个基因下调表达,共占差异表达基因的34.62%。“滇北”鸭茅在水淹胁迫下差异表达基因主要属于miR166、miR167、miR159、miR396和miR156这5个miRNA基因家族。基于对差异miRNA进行靶基因预测及靶基因的GO和KEGG功能分析,发现这些靶基因主要参与细胞生理过程、代谢过程、IL-17信号通路、Th17细胞分化等植物逆境响应过程,为进一步揭示鸭茅在水淹胁迫下的分子调控机制提供了研究线索。     

胚胎移植前供体牛与受体牛血浆外泌体miRNA差异表达分析

【目的】 探索胚胎移植前供体牛与受体牛血浆外泌体miRNA的表达差异, 以明确血浆外泌体miRNA在牛早期妊娠中的作用及其调控机制。【方法】 以3~6岁、体重480~600 kg的夏南牛作为研究对象, 选取10头供体牛进行同期发情、超数排卵和人工授精, 23头受体牛只做同期发情处理。在人工授精后第7天, 冲洗供体牛子宫以获取囊胚, 选取3头囊胚数相近的供体牛及3头与供体牛体重和年龄均相近的受体牛, 颈静脉采血, 进行血浆外泌体的分离与鉴定; 然后提取血浆外泌体miRNA, 并检测其表达量; 采用R语言中的DESeq差异算法计算P值, 并筛选出P<0.05的miRNA, 对差异表达的miRNA进行靶基因预测、GO功能富集分析和KEGG信号通路分析。【结果】 6个样本的囊泡粒径均在135 nm左右, 符合外泌体的特征。与供体牛相比, 受体牛中有9个miRNAs表达显著上调(P<0.05), 13个miRNAs显著下调(P<0.05);22个差异表达的miRNAs中, 有15个miRNAs预测出无重复的靶基因2 990个。GO功能富集分析和KEGG信号通路分析的结果表明, 这些靶基因主要富集在与生物黏附(biological adhesion)、定位(localization)、细胞连接(cell junction)功能有关的通路上, 显著富集的信号通路与黏着斑(focal adhesion)、黏着连接(adherens junction)有关, 提示血浆外泌体miRNA可能参与调控胚胎着床。【结论】 研究结果可为筛选和探究影响胚胎着床的血浆外泌体miRNA提供参考, 并为进一步阐明血浆外泌体miRNA在母牛早期妊娠调控中的作用提供依据。     

鸭肠炎病毒感染鸭肝脏组织miRNA表达谱差异分析

为探究鸭感染鸭肠炎病毒（Duck enteritis virus,DEV）后肝脏miRNA表达谱的差异,试验以DEV-GZ株经腿部肌肉接种30日龄麻鸭,于感染后66、90和114 h采集鸭肝脏组织样本,提取组织总RNA,经质检合格后,采用高通量测序技术对对照组和试验组样品进行miRNA测序,筛选出DEV感染鸭肝脏组织的差异表达miRNA,对其进行生物信息学GO功能分类和KEGG信号通路分析,并随机选取部分差异表达miRNA进行实时荧光定量PCR验证。结果显示,鸭感染DEV后66、90和114 h,肝脏组织差异表达miRNAs数量分别为227、225和231个。GO功能注释显示,感染鸭肝脏差异表达miRNA在生物过程分类中主要为细胞过程、单有机体过程和代谢过程类别;在细胞成分分类中主要是细胞、细胞部分和细胞器类别;在分子功能分类中主要是绑定分子功能和催化活性功能类别。KEGG通路富集显示,差异表达miRNA主要涉及PI3K-Akt、JAK-STAT、磷脂酰肌醇信号通路系统、ECM-受体相互作用、MAPK、Wnt、Toll样受体、IL-17、脂质代谢、钙离子信号通路和cAMP等信号通路,其中感染66 h差异表达miRNA主要在生物系统及神经系统中发挥作用;感染90 h主要在内分泌系统及消化系统中发挥作用;感染114 h主要在全身生物、免疫和消化系统等中发挥作用。选取10个差异表达miRNAs进行实时荧光定量PCR验证,结果与高通量测序结果一致。表明DEV感染对鸭肝脏组织miRNA表达具有显著影响,为从宿主miRNA角度揭示DEV致病机制提供了参考依据。     

藏鸡不同发育阶段腿部肌肉组织转录组及microRNA联合分析

旨在从转录组和miRNA角度探讨藏鸡肌肉发育的调控机制,了解藏鸡肌肉发育的特殊性。本研究对120和150日龄藏鸡的肌肉组织进行转录组和small RNA测序,筛选出两个日龄阶段差异表达的基因和miRNA,并利用qRT-PCR技术对测序结果进行验证。结果,共筛选出1 691个差异表达基因,其中上调基因330个,下调基因1 361个。差异表达miRNA共有22个,其中9个上调,13个下调。随机选择的5个基因和miRNAs的qPCR验证结果表明表达趋势与测序结果一致。GO富集分析显示,在富集前10的条目中,与免疫相关的条目占较大比例。KEGG分析结果显示,在19个显著富集通路中,与免疫相关的通路占较大比例,且83个miRNA的靶基因出现在显著富集通路上。转录组和small RNA测序数据联合分析表明,343个miRNA-mRNA对为负相关调控模式。本研究从多组学层面为进一步理解藏鸡的肌肉发育提供了理论基础。