Comprehensive analysis of circular RNAs in porcine small intestine epithelial cells associated with susceptibility to Escherichia coli F4ac diarrhea

Abstract

Background Diarrhea is one of the most common diseases in pig industry, which seriously threatens the health of piglets and causes huge economic losses. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) F4 is regarded as the most important cause of diarrhea in piglets. Some pigs are naturally resistant to those diarrheas caused by ETEC-F4, because they have no F4 receptors (F4R) on their small intestine epithelial cells that allow F4 fimbriae adhesion. Circular RNA (circRNA) has been shown to play an important regulatory role in the pathogenesis of disease. We hypothesized that circRNAs may also regulate the adhesion of piglet small intestinal epithelial cells to ETEC F4 fimbriae. However, the circRNA expression profiles of piglets with different Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F4 fimbriae (ETEC-F4ac) adhesion phenotypes are still unclear, and the intermediate regulatory mechanisms need to be explored. Hence, the present study assessed the circRNA expression profiling in small intestine epithelial cells of eight male piglets with different ETEC-F4 adhesion phenotypes and ITGB5 genotypes to unravel their regulatory function in susceptibility to ETEC-F4ac diarrhea. Piglets were divided into two groups: non-adhesive group (n = 4) with CC genotype and adhesive group (n = 4) with TT genotype. Results The RNA-seq data analysis identified 13,199 circRNAs from eight samples, most of which were exon-derived. In the small intestine epithelial cells, 305 were differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs between the adhesive and non-adhesive groups; of which 46 circRNAs were upregulated, and 259 were downregulated. Gene ontology and KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that most significantly enriched DE circRNAs’ host genes were linked to cytoskeletal components, protein phosphorylation, cell adhesion, ion transport and pathways (such as adherens junction, gap junction) associated with ETEC diarrhea. The circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interaction network was also constructed to elucidate their underlying regulatory relationships. Our results identified several candidate circRNAs that affects susceptibility to ETEC diarrhea. Among them, circ-SORBS1 can adsorb ssc-miR-345-3p to regulate the expression of its host gene SORBS1, thus improving cell adhesion. Conclusion Our results provided insights into the regulation function of circRNAs in susceptibility to ETEC diarrhea of piglets, and enhanced our understanding of the role of circRNAs in regulating ETEC diarrhea, and reveal the great potential of circRNA as a diagnostic marker for susceptibility of ETEC diarrhea in piglets.

CircSorbs1 regulates myocardial regeneration and reduces Cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity through the Mir-99/GATA4 pathway

“…Jin et al demonstrated that Sorbs1 can be targeted by miRNAs to regulate the progression of gastric cancer [21], suggesting that circ-SORBS1 may regulate gene expression by acting as a miRNA sponge. Additionally, Zhao et al con rmed the presence of numerous miRNA binding sites on circ-SORBS1, further supporting its potential as a miRNA sponge [22]. These ndings underscore the signi cant potential of circ-SORBS1 as a regulator of gene expression through miRNA sequestration.…”

circSORBS1 inhibits lung cancer progression by sponging miR-6779-5p and directly binding RUFY3 mRNA

“…It has been recently shown that circSORBS1 production is regulated by QKI and RBM20 in mice [ 25 , 26 ]. Qingyao Zhao et al reported that circSORBS1 adsorbs miR-345-3p in porcine small intestinal epithelial cells, thereby improving cell adhesion [ 27 ]. Although circRNAs are given the same name in different species, their sequences and functions differ significantly.…”