MicroRNA roles in signalling during lactation: an insight from differential expression, time course and pathway analyses of deep sequence data.
The study examined microRNA (miRNA) expression and regulatory patterns during an entire bovine lactation cycle. Total RNA from milk fat samples collected at the lactogenesis (LAC, day1 [D1] and D7), galactopoiesis (GAL, D30, D70, D130, D170 and D230) and involution (INV, D290 and when milk production dropped to 5 kg/day) stages from 9 cows was used for miRNA sequencing. A total of 475 known and 238 novel miRNAs were identified. Fifteen abundantly expressed miRNAs across lactation stages play regulatory roles in basic metabolic, cellular and immunological functions. About 344, 366 and 209 miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed (DE) between GAL and LAC, INV and GAL, and INV and LAC stages, respectively. MiR-29b/miR-363 and miR-874/miR-6254 are important mediators for transition signals from LAC to GAL and from GAL to INV, respectively. Moreover, 58 miRNAs were dynamically DE in all lactation stages and 19 miRNAs were significantly time-dependently DE throughout lactation. Relevant signalling pathways for transition between lactation stages are involved in apoptosis (PTEN and SAPK/JNK), intracellular signalling (protein kinase A, TGF-β and ERK5), cell cycle regulation (STAT3), cytokines, hormones and growth factors (prolactin, growth hormone and glucocorticoid receptor). Overall, our data suggest diverse, temporal and physiological signal-dependent regulatory and mediator functions for miRNAs during lactation.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre, 2000 College Street, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1M 0C8, Canada.|Department of Animal Science, McGill University, 21111, Lakeshore Road, Ste-Anne-de Bellevue, Quebec, J1M 0C8, Canada.
Duy N
DN
Do
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre, 2000 College Street, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1M 0C8, Canada.|College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xinong road 22, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
Ran
R
Li
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre, 2000 College Street, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1M 0C8, Canada.
Pier-Luc
PL
Dudemaine
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre, 2000 College Street, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1M 0C8, Canada.
Eveline M
EM
Ibeagha-Awemu
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / Q000379:methods*; D007774:Lactation / Q000235:genetics*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*; D013997:Time Factors
D035683:MicroRNAs