Multi-Tissue WGBS Analysis in Mini Pigs: Body Size and Tissue-Specific Comparisons
This study utilized methylome data to comprehensively analyze the epigenetic landscape across five tissues (heart, liver, kidney, back fat, and loin) of minipigs. As the demand for organ transplantation continues to rise, xenotransplantation has gained significant attention as a promising solution to address the critical shortage of organ donors. Minipigs are considered a highly promising animal model for xenotransplantation research due to their remarkable physiological and anatomical similarities to humans. To evaluate the potential of minipigs, this study identified tissue-specific methylation patterns and differentially methylated regions (DMRs) related to body size, offering an in-depth exploration of their epigenetic characteristics. The findings revealed that tissue-specific methylation markers, such as those associated with MYH7B in the heart and ITIH4 in the liver, play pivotal roles in physiological and pathological processes. Additionally, DMRs associated with body size, such as those linked to DES in the heart and NRAP in the loin, provided valuable insights into the relationship between organ size and functionality. Notably, the methylation patterns of immune-related regions, such as those associated with IFI30, NCK2, NFKB1, and SOS2, demonstrated that minipigs exhibit a greater similarity to humans than to conventional pigs, highlighting their potential as an indispensable model for xenotransplantation and biomedical research.