Molecular regulatory mechanism of key LncRNAs in subclinical mastitic cows with folic acid supplementation

Xueqin Liu; Siyuan Mi; Wenlong Li; Jinning Zhang; Serafino M A Augustino; Zhichao Zhang; Ruiqiang Zhang; Wei Xiao; Ying Yu

doi:10.1186/s12864-023-09466-3

Molecular regulatory mechanism of key LncRNAs in subclinical mastitic cows with folic acid supplementation

BMC Genomics. 2023 Aug 17;24(1):464. doi: 10.1186/s12864-023-09466-3.

Authors

Xueqin Liu¹, Siyuan Mi¹, Wenlong Li¹, Jinning Zhang¹, Serafino M A Augustino^{1

2}, Zhichao Zhang¹, Ruiqiang Zhang¹, Wei Xiao³, Ying Yu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
² School of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Juba, P. O. Box 82, Juba, South Sudan.
³ Beijing Animal Husbandry Station, Beijing, 100029, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China. yuying@cau.edu.cn.

Abstract

Background: Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin (B9), which is closely related to the body's immune and other metabolic pathways. The folic acid synthesized by rumen microbes has been unable to meet the needs of high-yielding dairy cows. The incidence rate of subclinical mastitis in dairy herds worldwide ranged between 25%~65% with no obvious symptoms, but it significantly causes a decrease in lactation and milk quality. Therefore, this study aims at exploring the effects of folic acid supplementation on the expression profile of lncRNAs, exploring the molecular mechanism by which lncRNAs regulate immunity in subclinical mastitic dairy cows.

Results: The analysis identified a total of 4384 lncRNA transcripts. Subsequently, differentially expressed lncRNAs in the comparison of two groups (SF vs. SC, HF vs. HC) were identified to be 84 and 55 respectively. Furthermore, the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and the KEGG enrichment analysis result showed that folic acid supplementation affects inflammation and immune response-related pathways. The two groups have few pathways in common. One important lncRNA MSTRG.11108.1 and its target genes (ICAM1, CCL3, CCL4, etc.) were involved in immune-related pathways. Finally, through integrated analysis of lncRNAs with GWAS data and animal QTL database, we found that differential lncRNA and its target genes could be significantly enriched in SNPs and QTLs related to somatic cell count (SCC) and mastitis, such as MSTRG.11108.1 and its target gene ICAM1, CXCL3, GRO1.

Conclusions: For subclinical mastitic cows, folic acid supplementation can significantly affect the expression of immune-related pathway genes such as ICAM1 by regulating lncRNAs MSTRG.11108.1, thereby affecting related immune phenotypes. Our findings laid a ground foundation for theoretical and practical application for feeding folic acid supplementation in subclinical mastitic cows.

Keywords: Chinese holstein cows; Folic acid supplementation; LncRNA; Subclinical mastitis.

MeSH terms

Animals
Cattle
Dietary Supplements
Female
Folic Acid / pharmacology
Humans
Mastitis, Bovine* / genetics
Mastitis, Bovine* / prevention & control
RNA, Long Noncoding* / genetics

Substances

RNA, Long Noncoding
Folic Acid

Abstract

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding