Abstract
ObjectiveIn this study, we aimed to identify long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that play important roles in starvation stress, analyze their functions, and discover potential molecular targets to alleviate starvation stress to provide a theoretical reference for subsequent in-depth research.MethodsWe generated a piglet starvation stress animal model. Nine Yorkshire weaned piglets were randomly divided into a long-term starvation stress group (starved for 72 h), short-term starvation stress group (starved for 48 h), and the control group. LncRNA libraries were constructed using high-throughput sequencing of piglet ileums.ResultsWe obtained 11,792 lncRNAs, among which, 2,500 lncRNAs were novel. In total, 509 differentially expressed (DE)lncRNAs were identified in this study. Target genes of DElncRNAs were predicted via cis and trans interactions, and functional and pathway analyses were performed. Gene ontology functions and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis revealed that lncRNA-targeted genes mainly participated in metabolic pathways, cellular processes, immune system processes, digestive systems, and transport activities. To reveal the mechanism underlying starvation stress, the interaction network between lncRNAs and their targets was constructed based on 26 DElncRNAs and 72 DEmRNAs. We performed an interaction network analysis of 121 DElncRNA–DEmRNA pairs with a Pearson correlation coefficient greater than 0.99.ConclusionWe found that MSTRG.19894.13, MSTRG.16726.3, and MSTRG.12176.1 might play important roles in starvation stress. This study not only generated a library of enriched lncRNAs in piglets, but its outcomes also provide a strong foundation to screen key lncRNAs involved in starvation stress and a reference for subsequent in-depth research.
Highlights
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that since 1975, the number of obese people in the world has grown nearly three-fold, and currently, nearly 20 million adults are overweight or obese [1]
After removing the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) reads from the alignment, they were compared to the pig reference genome, and 96.67% to 95.03% reads were successfully mapped
We analyzed the transcriptional changes in piglets subjected to starvation stress via high-throughput sequencing and revealed the damage caused by starvation stress to the body from the perspective of Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) expression
Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that since 1975, the number of obese people in the world has grown nearly three-fold, and currently, nearly 20 million adults are overweight or obese [1]. Long-term starvation stress can lead to a deficit of effective nutrients, increase levels of corticosterone, the stress hormone, and inhibit cardiovascular function [5]. Studies have reported that starvation can cause changes in the intestinal structure, damage the intestinal barrier, decrease the villus height-to-crypt depth (V/C) ratio, and dysregulate the intestinal flora, which eventually leads to metabolic disorders [7]. Recent studies have surmised that an increasing number of lncRNAs play important roles in maintaining intestinal epithelial homeostasis, promoting the proliferation and apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells, and regulating the intestinal barrier [10-12]. In mice with starvation-induced mucosal atrophy, lncRNA uc.173 promotes the proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells by reducing the expression of miR-195 [11]. Significant differences exist in metabolic and physiological characteristics between humans and mice, which prevents researchers from applying findings from murine studies to humans for metabolism-related disease prevention and intervention strategies [14]. We aimed to identify lncRNAs that have important functions in starvation stress, analyze their functions, and discover potential molecular targets for alleviating starvation stress, to provide a theoretical reference for subsequent in-depth research
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