Comprehensive analysis of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and mRNAs reveals potential players of sexually dimorphic and left-right asymmetry in chicken gonad during gonadal differentiation.

Despite thousands of sex-biased genes being found in chickens, the genetic control of sexually dimorphic and left-right asymmetry during gonadal differentiation is not yet completely understood. This study aimed to identify microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), messenger RNAs (mRNAs), and signaling pathways during gonadal differentiation in chick embryos (day 6/stage 29). The left and right gonads were collected for RNA sequencing. Sex-biased, side-biased miRNAs, lncRNAs, mRNAs, and shared differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNA)-differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNA)-differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNA) interaction networks were performed. A total of 8 DEmiRNAs, 183 DElncRNAs, and 123 DEmRNAs were identified for the sex-biased genes, and 7 DEmiRNAs, 189 DElncRNAs, and 183 DEmRNAs for the side-biased genes. The results of quantitative real-time PCR were generally consistent with the RNA-sequencing results. The study suggested that miRNAs and lncRNAs regulation were novel gene-specific dosage compensation mechanism and they could contribute to left-right asymmetry of chicken, but sex-biased and side-biased miRNAs, lncRNAs, and mRNAs were independent of each other. The competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks showed that 17 target pairs including miR-7b (CYP19A1, FSHR, GREB1, STK31, CORIN, and TDRD9), miR-211 (FSHR, GREB1, STK31, CORIN, and TDRD9), miR-204 (FSHR, GREB1, CORIN, and TDRD9), and miR-302b-5p (CYP19A1 and TDRD9) may play crucial roles in ovarian development. These analyses provide new clues to uncover molecular mechanisms and signaling networks of ovarian development.

Association of host genetics with intestinal microbial relevant to body weight in a chicken F2 resource population.

Host-microbiota interactions describe a co-evolution and mutualistic symbiosis. Gut microbial communities are important for diverse host functions. However, in birds, the relationship between the composition of the intestinal microbiota and the genetic variation of the host is not clearly understood. To dissect these interactions, a Chinese yellow broiler line (genetically selected for a high growth rate) and Huiyang Beard chickens (low growth rate) were crossed, generating an F2 population. The population structures of the gut microbes in the phenotypically high and low 91-d body weight individuals of both sexes in the F2 population were studied. Interestingly, a non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis revealed that the microbiota of the high-weight and low-weight females was clearly separated into 2 clusters. A ß-diversity analysis showed that the locus rs16775833 within the doublesex and mab-3-related transcription factor (DMRT) gene cluster accounted for approximately 21% of the variation in the population structure of the gut microbiota. Furthermore, the 2 genetic loci rs15142709 and rs15142674 were significantly associated with specific species of Methanobacterium. These loci are located in the pleiomorphic adenoma gene 1 (PLAG1) and lck/yes-related novel tyrosine kinase (LYN) genes, which are involved in cell differentiation and growth. This finding suggests evidence for the influence of the host genetics on the composition of the gut microbiota in birds and the importance and utility of the host-microbe status to better understand its effect on the potential growth of birds.

Increased CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells in Chinese systemic lupus erythematosus: correlate with disease activity and organ involvement.

OBJECTIVE: The increment of CD4+CD25-Foxp3+T cells has been reported in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. However, the exact identity of this T cell subset is still unclear. Thus, we analyzed CD4+CD25-Foxp3+T cells and Treg cells (CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells) in a large sample of Chinese SLE patients in different disease states. METHODS: A total of 280 SLE patients and 38 healthy volunteers were enrolled, which included 21 patients with untreated new-onset lupus (UNOL), 13 patients with drug withdrawal more than 6 months and 246 patients with treatments. Phenotypic and functional analysis of peripheral blood CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells and Treg cells were performed by flow cytometry. The correlation of CD4+CD25-Foxp3+T cells and Treg cells with disease activity, clinical indicators and organ involvement were analyzed. RESULTS: CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells and Treg cells were significantly increased in SLE patients and showed significantly positive correlations with disease activity. CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells were significantly increased in patients with skin and hematologic involvement as well as arthritis. Diverse changes between CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells and Treg cells when faced with different medications, especially HCQ and MMF. CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells expressed more IFN-γ and less CTLA-4 than CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells, which were similar to CD4+CD25+Foxp3- T cells, and expressed similar IL-17, ICOS and Helios to CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells. The synthesis capacity of IL-10 of CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells and the expression of GITR on CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells were between CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ and CD4+CD25+Foxp3- T cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that increased CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells in lupus patients, which combined the features of suppression and pro-inflammatory, may serve as a biomarker for disease activity and organ involvement in SLE.