Li Yanyue, Li Xiaocheng, Sun Wen-Kui, Cheng Chi, Chen Yi-Hui, Zeng Kai, Chen Xiaohui, Gu Yiren, Gao Rong, Liu Rui, Lv Xuebin
Key Laboratory of Bioresource and Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety of Sichuan Province, College of Life Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, China.
Sichuan Academy of Animal Science, Chengdu, Sichuan 610066, China.
Gene. 2016 Feb 15;577(2):244-50. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2015.12.003. Epub 2015 Dec 3.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the modulation of various metabolic processes in the liver, yet little is known about the liver microRNAome (miRNAome) of the Tibetan pig. Here we used the Yorkshire pig as a control to analyze the Tibetan pig-specific liver miRNAome, and for preliminary investigation of differentially expressed miRNAs participating in metabolism. A comprehensive analysis of Tibetan and Yorkshire pig liver miRNAomes by small RNA sequencing identified 362 unique miRNAs. Among these, 304 were co-expressed in both libraries, and 10 and 48 miRNAs were specifically expressed. Differential expression analysis of miRNAs, miRNA target prediction and KEGG analysis revealed that differentially expressed miRNAs were associated mainly with the metabolism of glucose, lipid and protein. Six differentially expressed miRNAs (miR-34a, miR-326, miR-1, miR-335, miR-185 and miR-378) participating in the metabolism of glucose and lipid were identified. Additionally, qPCR results revealed that a lower expression of miR-34a in Tibetan pig liver may promote gluconeogenesis by increasing the expression of Sirtuin type 1 (Sirt1); a lower expression of miR-1 in Tibetan pig liver may promote the synthesis and accumulation of lipid by increasing the expression of Liver X receptor α (LXRα); and a lower expression of miR-185 in Tibetan pig liver may promote the uptake of cholesterol from blood and secretion of bile by increasing the expression of the scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI). Our results provide new information and understanding of porcine miRNA profiles, which may help explain the regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs in the metabolic functions of Tibetan pig liver, and provide new biomarkers to assist in the development of Tibetan pig breeding characteristics.
微小RNA（miRNA）在肝脏各种代谢过程的调节中发挥着重要作用，但关于藏猪肝脏微小RNA组（miRNA组）的了解却很少。在这里，我们以大白猪作为对照，分析藏猪特有的肝脏miRNA组，并初步研究参与代谢的差异表达miRNA。通过小RNA测序对藏猪和大白猪肝脏miRNA组进行综合分析，鉴定出362个独特的miRNA。其中，304个在两个文库中共同表达，10个和48个miRNA分别特异性表达。对miRNA的差异表达分析、miRNA靶标预测和KEGG分析表明，差异表达的miRNA主要与葡萄糖、脂质和蛋白质的代谢相关。鉴定出6个参与葡萄糖和脂质代谢的差异表达miRNA（miR-34a、miR-326、miR-1、miR-335、miR-185和miR-378）。此外，qPCR结果显示，藏猪肝脏中miR-34a的低表达可能通过增加沉默信息调节因子1（Sirt1）的表达来促进糖异生；藏猪肝脏中miR-1的低表达可能通过增加肝脏X受体α（LXRα）的表达来促进脂质的合成和积累；藏猪肝脏中miR-185的低表达可能通过增加I型清道夫受体（SR-BI）的表达来促进血液中胆固醇的摄取和胆汁的分泌。我们的结果为猪miRNA谱提供了新的信息和认识，这可能有助于解释miRNA在藏猪肝脏代谢功能中的调控机制，并为辅助藏猪育种特性的发展提供新的生物标志物。
