RNA-Seq based transcriptome of whole blood from immunocompetent pigs ( Sus scrofa ) experimentally infected with Mycoplasma suis strain Illinois

AbstractPigs are popular animal models in biomedical research. RNA-Seq is becoming the predominant tool to investigate transcriptional changes of the pig ’s response to infection. The high sensitivity of this tool requires a strict control of the study design beginning with the selection of healthy animals to provide accurate interpretation of research data. Pigs chronically infected withMycoplasma suis often show no obvious clinical signs, however the infection may affect the validity of animal research. The goal of this study was to investigate whether or not this silent infection is also silent at the host transcriptional level. Therefore, immunocompetent pigs were experimentally infected withM. suis and transcriptional profiles of whole blood, generated by RNA-Seq, were analyzed and compared to non-infected animals. RNA-Seq showed 55 differentially expressed (DE) genes in theM. suis infected pigs. Down-regulation of genes related to innate immunity (tlr8, chemokines, chemokines receptors) and genes containing IFN gamma-activated sequence (gbp1,gbp2,il15,cxcl10,casp1,cd274) suggests a general suppression of the immune response in the infected animals. Sixteen (29.09%) of the DE genes were involved in two protein interaction networks: one involving chemokines, chemokine receptors and interleukin-15 and another involving the complement cascade. Genes related to vascular permeability, blood coagulation, and endothelium integrity were also DE in infected pigs. These findings...
Source: Veterinary Research - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research