Abstract
Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) affects the health and productivity of cattle. The virus causes abnormal immune function and immunosuppression. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in gene expression, having been associated with stress and immune response, tumor growth, and viral infection. The objective of this study was to determine the expression of circulating miRNAs produced by BLV in animals exposed to the virus. Sera from 14 animals were collected to establish IgG reactivity to BLV by ELISA, where seven animals were seropositive and seven were seronegative for BLV exposure. White blood cells (WBC) from each animal were also collected and miRNAs were identified by sequencing from sera and WBC. The seropositive group had higher counts of BLV miRNAs when compared to seronegative group in sera and WBC. Blv-miR-1-3p, blv-miR-B2-5p, blv-miR-B4-3p, and blv-miR-B5-5p were statistically significant (P < 0.00001) in serum with an average of 7 log2 fold difference between seropositive and seronegative groups. Blv-miR-B1-3p, blv-miR-B1-5p, blv-miR-B3, blv-miR-B4-3p, blv-miR-B4-5p, blv-miR-B5-5p were statistically significant (P < 1.08e−9) in WBC with an average of 7 log2 fold difference between the seropositive and the seronegative groups. Blv-miR-B2-3p and blv-miR-B2-5p were also statistically significant in WBC (P < 2.79e-17), with an average of 27 log2 fold difference between the seropositive and the seronegative groups. There were 18 genes identified as being potential targets for blv-miR-B1-5p, and 3 genes for blv-miR-B4-5p. Gene ontology analysis indicated that the target genes are mainly involved in the response to stress and in the immune system process. Several of the identified genes have been associated with leukemia development in humans and cattle. Differential expression of genes targeted by BLV miRNAs should be evaluated to determine their effect in BLV replication.
Highlights
Bovine Leukemia virus (BLV) belongs to the Retroviridae family, produces enzootic bovine leukosis, and is associated with subclinical infections in cattle [1,2,3]
The expression of Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) miRNAs has not been established; the objective of this study was to determine the expression of circulating miRNAs produced by BLV in animals exposed to the virus
Sequences were identified for all known mature BLV miRNAs, with the exception of blv-miR-B3-5p
Summary
Bovine Leukemia virus (BLV) belongs to the Retroviridae family, produces enzootic bovine leukosis, and is associated with subclinical infections in cattle [1,2,3]. 83% of the cows in dairy herds, and 39% of cattle at slaughter are infected with BLV [2, 3]. No commercial vaccine is available and control of the virus is by culling. Viral BLV microRNAs in Cattle positive animals [3]. Infection with BLV has been associated with higher culling rates and shorter herd life, contributing to the cost of the production system. It has been estimated that the annual cost of subclinical BLV infection is more than $6,400, with a 50% prevalence in a 100 herd of cows in the mid-Atlantic region [1]
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