DNA Methylation of Pig Promoter Alters mRNA Expression to Regulate F18 Susceptibility.

Post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) is frequently associated with F18 infections in piglets. However, the underlying molecular mechanism concerning the resistance of F18 in local weaned piglets in China is not clearly understood. In the present study, by a comparative analysis of the transcriptome, a-1,3-fucosyltransferase () was evaluated as a key candidate correlated with resistance to F18 in Sutai and Meishan piglets. Functional analysis demonstrated that acts as a key positive regulator of F18 susceptibility in newly food accustomed piglets. However, the core promoter of was present at -500-(-206) bp (chr.2: g.73171117-g.73171616), comprising of 9 methylated CpG sites. Among these, the methylation levels of the two CpG sites (mC-3, mC-5) located in HIF1A and Sp1 transcription factor (TF) considerably associated with mRNA expression of ( < 0.05). Our findings indicated that the methylation of mC-3 and mC-5 sites has certain inhibitory effect on expression and promotes the resistance of F18 in piglets. The underlined study may explore as a new candidate target in F18 infection in Chinese local weaned piglets.