Long non-coding RNAs and mRNAs profiling during spleen development in pig

PLoS One. 2018 Mar 14;13(3):e0193552. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193552. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Genome-wide transcriptomic studies in humans and mice have become extensive and mature. However, a comprehensive and systematic understanding of protein-coding genes and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) expressed during pig spleen development has not been achieved. LncRNAs are known to participate in regulatory networks for an array of biological processes. Here, we constructed 18 RNA libraries from developing fetal pig spleen (55 days before birth), postnatal pig spleens (0, 30, 180 days and 2 years after birth), and the samples from the 2-year-old Wild Boar. A total of 15,040 lncRNA transcripts were identified among these samples. We found that the temporal expression pattern of lncRNAs was more restricted than observed for protein-coding genes. Time-series analysis showed two large modules for protein-coding genes and lncRNAs. The up-regulated module was enriched for genes related to immune and inflammatory function, while the down-regulated module was enriched for cell proliferation processes such as cell division and DNA replication. Co-expression networks indicated the functional relatedness between protein-coding genes and lncRNAs, which were enriched for similar functions over the series of time points examined. We identified numerous differentially expressed protein-coding genes and lncRNAs in all five developmental stages. Notably, ceruloplasmin precursor (CP), a protein-coding gene participating in antioxidant and iron transport processes, was differentially expressed in all stages. This study provides the first catalog of the developing pig spleen, and contributes to a fuller understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning mammalian spleen development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Library
  • Gene Regulatory Networks
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • RNA / chemistry
  • RNA / isolation & purification
  • RNA / metabolism
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Spleen / growth & development*
  • Spleen / metabolism
  • Swine / growth & development*
  • Transcriptome

Substances

  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31772576, 31522055, 31530073, 31601919 and 31472081), the Program for Innovative Research Team of Sichuan Province (2015TD0012), the Science & Technology Support Program of Sichuan (2016NYZ0042), Sichuan Province & Chinese Academy of Science of Science & Technology Cooperation Project (2017JZ0025), the Earmarked Fund for China Agriculture Research System (No. CARS-35-01A), the National Program for Support of Top-notch Young Professionals, the Young Scholars of the Yangtze River.