A microarray study of altered gene expression during melanoblasts migration in normal pigmented White Leghorn and hyperpigmented mutant Silky Fowl

Zhang

Chen

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

Self Cite

Hyperpigmentation in Silky Fowl (SF) results in aberrant immune cell development. However, how melanocytes regulate B-cell proliferation in the bursa of Fabricius (BF) is unclear. To resolve this conundrum, we collected BFs from three-week-old SF and White Leghorn (WL) female chickens for RNA sequencing. The BF development was relatively weaker in SF than in WL. The transcriptome analyses identified 4848 differentially expressed genes, 326 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and 67 microRNAs in the BF of SF. The genes associated with melanogenesis was significantly higher, but that of the genes associated with the cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions and JAK-STAT signalling pathway was significantly lower in SF than in WL. Crucial biological processes, such as the receptor activity, cell communication, and cellular responses to stimuli, were clustered in SF. The predicted target lncRNAs genes were mainly associated with cell proliferation pathways such as JAK-STAT, WNT, MAPK, and Notch signalling pathways. Except for the above pathways, the target microRNA genes were related to the metabolism, melanogenesis, autophagy, and NOD-like and Toll-like receptor signalling pathways. The lncRNAs and microRNAs were predicted to regulate the JAK2, STAT3, and IL-15 genes. Thus, B-cell development in the BF of SF might be regulated and affected by noncoding RNAs.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Transcriptome analyses of differential gene expression in the bursa of Fabricius between Silky Fowl and White Leghorn

Zhang

Chen

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

Self Cite

“…Additionally, similar results were obtained for immune organ indices and immune gene expressions in the F2 population, which further supports the hypothesis that inhibition of immune organ development is substantially related to the atypical melanocyte migration, rather than variations among different breeds. Our previous microarray study revealed that genes involved in the innate immune response are expressed at higher levels compared to those involved in the adoptive immune response during migration of melanocytes in the embryo on days 3, 3.5, 4, and 4.5 [ 19 ]. We concluded that melanocyte migration negatively regulates immune development in SF embryos, and that the influence continued at the early stage development.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A few studies have analyzed the effects of hyperpigmentation in inner organs that affect the development of SF. In our previous work, we found that genes involved in the innate and adoptive immune responses are up and down regulated, respectively, during embryonic development on days 3, 3.5, 4, and 4.5 [ 19 ]. In the present study, we determined the histological distribution of melanocytes and analyzed the populations of immune cells and cytokine gene expression in immune organs during development in SF, White Leghorn (WL), and the hybrid F2 generation birds.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hyperpigmentation Results in Aberrant Immune Development in Silky Fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus Brisson)

Wang

et al. 2015

PLoS ONE

Self Cite

The Silky Fowl (SF) is known for its special phenotypes and atypical distribution of melanocytes among internal organs. Although the genes associated with melanocyte migration have been investigated substantially, there is little information on the postnatal distribution of melanocytes in inner organs and the effect of hyperpigmentation on the development of SF. Here, we analyzed melanocyte distribution in 26 tissues or organs on postnatal day 1 and weeks 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, and 23. Except for the liver, pancreas, pituitary gland, and adrenal gland, melanocytes were distributed throughout the body, primarily around blood vessels. Interaction between melanocytes and the tissue cells was observed, and melanin was transported by filopodia delivery through engulfed and internalized membrane-encapsulated melanosomes. SFs less than 10 weeks old have lower indices of spleen, thymus, and bursa of Fabricius than White Leghorns (WLs). The expression levels of interferon-γ and interlukin-4 genes in the spleen, and serum antibody levels against H5N1 and infectious bursal disease virus were lower in SF than in WL. We also found immune organ developmental difference between Black-boned and non-Black- boned chickens from SFs and WLs hybrid F2 population. However, degeneration of the thymus and bursa of Fabricius occurred later in SF than in WL after sexual maturity. Analysis of apoptotic cells and apoptosis-associated Bax and Bcl-2 proteins indicated that apoptosis is involved in degeneration of the thymus and bursa of Fabricius. Therefore, these results suggest that hyperpigmentation in SF may have a close relationship with immune development in SF, which can provide an important animal model to investigate the roles of melanocyte.

Lower expression of sialic acid receptors in the cecum of silky fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus Brisson) compared to white leghorn

Teng

et al. 2016

Poultry Science

Avian influenza virus has received increasing attention in recent years because of the potential for recombination with the human virus. Distributions of sialic acid receptors on target cells are determinants of the susceptibilities of different species to influenza virus infection. In this study, the distribution of sialic acid receptors in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts of Silky Fowl and White Leghorn chickens were compared. The results showed that sialic acid-α-2,3-galactose receptors and sialic acid-α6-galactose receptors were both observed in Silky Fowl and White Leghorn, but fewer positive cells were detected in Silky Fowl with significant difference in the cecum. The lower abundance of sialic acid receptors likely results from the lower abundance of CD3 and F4/80 immune cells in the cecum of Silky Fowl.