GSE53511
Characterization and comparison of lactating mouse and bovine mammary gland miRNomes
Background: The mammary gland is a dynamic organ that undergoes important physiological changes during reproductive cycles. Until now, data regarding the characterisation of miRNA in the mammary gland have been scarce and mainly focused on their abnormal expression in breast cancer. Our goal was to characterise the microRNA (miRNA) involved in mechanisms regulating the mammary function, with particular focus on the lactation stage Methodology/principal findings: Using high-throughput sequencing technology, an exhaustive repertoire of miRNA (miRNome) expressed in mouse and bovine mammary glands during established lactation was identified, characterised and compared. Furthermore, in order to obtain more information on miRNA loading in the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), the miRNome was compared with that obtained from RNA associated with the AGO2 protein (AGO2-miRNome) in mouse lactating mammary gland. This study enabled the identification of 164 and 167 miRNA in mouse and bovine, respectively. Among the 30 miRNA most highly expressed in each species, 24 were common to both species and six of them tended to be more highly expressed in lactating than in non-lactating mammary gland. The potential functional roles of these 24 miRNA were deduced using DIANA-miRPath software, based on miRNA/mRNA interactions. Moreover, seven putative novel miRNA were identified. Using DAVID analysis, it was concluded that the predicted targets of two of these putative novel miRNA are involved in mammary gland morphogenesis. Conclusion/significance: Our study provides an overview of the characteristics of lactating mouse and bovine mammary gland miRNA expression profiles. Moreover, species-conserved miRNA involved in this fundamental biological function were identified. These miRNomes will new be used as references for further studies during which the impact of animal breeding on the miRNA expression will be analysed. Overall design: microRNA profiles of mammary glands from 2 FVB/N mice at lactation day-12 and mammary biopsies from 4 Holstein dairy cows at mid-lactation, generated by deep sequencing, using Illumina HiSeq 2000.