Colibacillosis is an acute and chronic avian disease caused by avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC). Previous studies have demonstrated that RIP2 plays a significant role in APEC infection. Moreover, increasing evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in host–pathogen interactions and the immune response. However, the role of miRNAs in the host against APEC infection remains unclear. Herein, we attempted to reveal new miRNAs potentially involved in the regulation of the immune and inflammatory response against APEC infection, with a particular focus on those possibly correlated with RIP2 expression, via miRNA-seq, RT-qPCR, Western blotting, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and CCK-8. The results showed that a total of 93 and 148 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were identified in the knockdown of RIP2 cells following APEC infection (shRIP2+APEC) vs. knockdown of RIP2 cells (shRIP2) and shRIP2 vs. wild-type cells (WT), respectively. Among those identified DE miRNAs, the biological function of gga-miR-455-5p was investigated. It was found that gga-miR-455-5p regulated by RIP2 was involved in the immune and inflammatory response against APEC infection via targeting of IRF2 to modulate the expression of type I interferons. Additionally, RIP2 could directly regulate the production of the type I interferons. Altogether, these findings highlighted the crucial role of miRNAs, especially gga-miR-455-5p, in host defense against APEC infection.
Background
Receptor interacting serine/threonine kinase 2 (RIP2), ubiquitous in many tissue/cell types, is the key regulator of immune and inflammatory responses for many diseases, including avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC), which causes a wide variety of localized or systemic infections. However, the molecular mechanisms by which RIP2 drives its transcriptional program to affect immune and inflammatory response upon APEC infection remains poorly understood.
Results
In this study, RNA-seq and bioinformatics analyses were used to detect gene expression and new direct/indirect RIP2 targets in the treatments of wild type HD11 cells (WT), RIP2 knockdown cells (shRIP2), APEC stimulation cells (APEC), and RIP2 knockdown cells combined with APEC infection (shRIP2 + APEC). The results revealed that a total of 4691 and 2605 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened in shRIP2 + APEC vs. APEC and shRIP2 vs. WT, respectively. Functional annotation analysis showed that apoptosis, MAPK, p53, Toll-like receptor, and Nod-like receptor signaling pathways were involved in APEC-induced RIP2 knockdown HD11 cells. By analyzing the enriched pathway and gene networks, we identified that several DEGs, including HSP90AB1, BID, and CASP9 were targeted by RIP2 upon APEC infection.
Conclusion
As a whole, this study can not only provide data support for constructing gene networks of RIP2 knockdown with APEC challenge but also provide new ideas for improving the immune and inflammatory response.
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