Effect of inulin on extracellular vesicles microRNAs in milk from dairy cows with sub-clinical mastitis
Milk contains microRNAs (miRNAs) that are protected by extracellular vesicles (EV). Beyond variations among individuals, the nutritional conditions of cattle play a role in shaping these milk miRNA profiles. This study explored milk-derived EV-miRNA variations induced by inulin supplementation and analyzed involved pathways. Fourteen lactating cows with sub-clinical mastitis were equally and randomly divided into an inulin and a control group. Cows in the inulin group received 300 g/d inulin, while the control group did not. After one week of adaptation and five weeks of treatment, milk-derived EV-miRNAs from cows were isolated. Differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were identified via high-throughput sequencing. Functional enrichment analyses, including Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses, were conducted to examine the target genes of DE miRNAs. Inulin supplementation did not significantly alter miRNA length, the number of known miRNAs, or the read number of small RNAs. Overall design: Fourteen lactating cows with sub-clinical mastitis were equally and randomly divided into an inulin and a control group. Cows in the inulin group received 300 g/d inulin, while the control group did not. After one week of adaptation and five weeks of treatment, milk-derived EV-miRNAs from cows were isolated. Differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were identified via high-throughput sequencing. Functional enrichment analyses, including Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses, were conducted to examine the target genes of DE miRNAs.