MDV-induced differential microRNA expression in the primary lymphoid organ of thymus. (September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Heidari, Mohammad; Zhang, Huanmin; Sunkara, Lakshmi
• Is Part Of: Microbial pathogenesis. Volume 170(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Subjects: Marek's disease -- Marek's disease virus -- microRNA -- Thymus -- Gene ontology (GO); Pathogenic microorganisms -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- parasitology -- Periodicals; Micro-organismes pathogènes -- Périodiques; Pathologie moléculaire -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.9041
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105688
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0882-4010

Abstract

Abstract: Marek's disease virus (MDV), a highly contagious cell associated virus, is the etiological agent of Marek's disease (MD), a lymphoproliferative and neuropathic disease of domestic chickens. Clinical signs of MD include transient paralysis, bursal/thymic atrophy, and T cell lymphomas. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short single-stranded non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by transcriptional suppression or mRNA degradation. Herpesviruses, including MDV, encode for miRNAs that are known to play essential roles in viral pathogenicity, oncogenesis, and evasion of immune responses. In this study, we performed miRNA sequencing in thymuses of control and MDV-infected chickens of MD-resistant (63 ) and susceptible (72 ) lines at 21 days post infection (dpi). The thymus is a lymphoid organ that undergoes severe atrophy due to MDV-induced apoptotic mediated destruction of T cells. Sequence analysis identified 658 total chicken miRNAs in the thymuses of control and MDV-infected birds of both lines. Of these, 453 were novel and 205 were known microRNAs. All novel miRNAs mapped to chicken genome with no sequence homology to existing miRNAs in the chicken miRbase. Comparative analysis between the thymuses of control and infected birds of resistant and susceptible lines identified 78 differentially expressed microRNAs that might provide insights into mechanisms of thymus atrophy. Highlights: Conducted microRNA-seq analysis in the thymuses of control and MDV-infected MD resistant and susceptible chickens. Sequence analysis identified 658 chicken miRNAs in the thymuses of control and MDV-infected birds of both lines. Of these, 453 were novel, never identified before, and 205 were known microRNAs. All novel miRNAs mapped to chicken genome with no sequence homology to existing miRNAs in the chicken miRbase. The 78 differentially expressed microRNAs might shed light on the mechanism of thymus atrophy.