Placental transcriptome co-expression analysis reveals conserved regulatory programs across gestation. (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Buckberry, Sam; Bianco-Miotto, Tina; Bent, Stephen; Clifton, Vicki; Shoubridge, Cheryl; Shankar, Kartik; Roberts, Claire
• Is Part Of: BMC genomics. Volume 18:Number 1(2017)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 13
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: RNA-seq -- Placenta -- Preeclampsia -- Co-expression -- Gene expression -- Microarray; Genomes -- Periodicals; Gene mapping -- Periodicals; Genomics -- Periodicals; Base Sequence -- Periodicals; Chromosome Mapping -- Periodicals; Genetic Techniques -- Periodicals; Sequence Analysis, DNA -- Periodicals; 572.8605
• DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-3384-9
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-2164

Abstract

Abstract Background Mammalian developmentin utero is absolutely dependent on proper placental development, which is ultimately regulated by the placental genome. The regulation of the placental genome can be directly studied by exploring the underlying organisation of the placental transcriptome through a systematic analysis of gene-wise co-expression relationships. Results In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of human placental co-expression using RNA sequencing and intergrated multiple transcriptome datasets spanning human gestation. We identified modules of co-expressed genes that are preserved across human gestation, and also identifed modules conserved in the mouse indicating conserved molecular networks involved in placental development and gene expression patterns more specific to late gestation. Analysis of co-expressed gene flanking sequences indicated that conserved co-expression modules in the placenta are regulated by a core set of transcription factors, including ZNF423 and EBF1. Additionally, we identified a gene co-expression module enriched for genes implicated in the pregnancy pathology preeclampsia. By using an independnet transcriptome dataset, we show that these co-expressed genes are differentially expressed in preeclampsia. Conclusions This study represents a comprehensive characterisation of placental co-expression and provides insight into potential transcriptional regulators that govern conserved molecular programs fundamental to placental development.