Avian leukosis virus (ALV) is oncogenic retrovirus that not only causes immunosuppression but also enhances the host's susceptibility to secondary infection. Exosomes play vital role in the signal transduction cascades that occur in response to viral infection. We want to explore the function of exosomes in the spread of ALV and the body's subsequent immunological response. RNA-sequencing and the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) method were used to detect differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in exosomes secreted by macrophage cells in response to injection with ALV subgroup J (ALV-J). RNA-sequencing identified 513 DEGs in infected cells, with specific differential regulation in mRNA involved in tight junction signaling, TNF signaling, salmonella infection response, and immune response, among other important cellular processes. Differential regulation was observed in 843 lncRNAs, with particular enrichment in those lncRNA targets involved in Rap1 signaling, HTLV-I infection, tight junction signaling, and other signaling pathways. A total of 50 DEPs were identified in the infected cells by iTRAQ. The proteins enriched are involved in immune response, antigen processing, the formation of both MHC protein and myosin complexes, and transport. Combined analysis of the transcriptome and proteome revealed that there were 337 correlations between RNA and protein enrichment, five of which were significant. Pathways that were enriched on both the RNA and protein levels were involved in pathways in cancer, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, Endocytosis, Epstein-Barr virus infection. These data show that exosomes are transmitters of intercellular signaling in response to viral infection. Exosomes can carry both viral nucleic acids and proteins, making it possible for exosomes to be involved in the viral infection of other cells and the transmission of immune signals between cells. Our sequencing results confirme previous studies on exosomes and further find exosomes may cause immunosuppression and immune tolerance.
Avian leukosis virus subgroup J disease (ALV-J) is a contagious and immunosuppressive avian disease caused by ALV-J virus. Although miRNA participate in various biological processes of tumors, little is known about the potential role of miRNA in ALV-J. Our previous miRNA and RNA sequencing data showed that the expression of gga-miR-148a-5p was significantly different in ALV-J-infected chicken spleens compared with non-infected chickens. The aim of this study was to investigate the functional roles of gga-miR-148a-5p and identify downstream targets regulated by gga-miR-148a-5p in ALV-J-infected chickens. We found that the expression of gga-miR-148a-5p was significantly downregulated during ALV-J infection of chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF). Dual luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that PDPK1 is a direct target gene of gga-miR-148a-5p. In vitro, overexpression of gga-miR-148a-5p significantly promoted ALV-J-infected CEF cell proliferation, included cell cycle, whereas inhibition of gga-miR-148a-5p had an opposite effect. Inhibition of PDPK1 promoted the proliferation of ALV-J-infected cells but had no effect on the activity of NF-κB. Together, these results suggested that gga-miR-148a-5p targets PDPK1 to inhibit the proliferation and cell cycle of ALV-J-infected CEF cells. Our study provides a new understanding for the tumor mechanism of ALV-J infection.
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