MicroRNAs modulate immunological and inflammatory responses in Holstein cattle naturally infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the post-transcriptional expression of genes by binding to their target mRNAs. In this study, whole miRNA sequencing was used to compare the expression of miRNAs in ileocecal valve (ICV) and peripheral blood (PB) samples of cows with focal or diffuse paratuberculosis (PTB)-associated lesions in gut tissues versus (vs) control cows without lesions. Among the eight miRNAs differentially expressed in the PB samples from cows with diffuse lesions vs controls, three (miR-19a, miR-144, miR32) were also down-regulated in cows with diffuse vs focal lesions. In the ICV samples, we identified a total of 4, 5, and 18 miRNAs differentially expressed in cows with focal lesions vs controls, diffuse lesions vs controls, and diffuse vs focal lesions, respectively. The differential expression of five microRNAs (miR-19a, miR-144, miR-2425-3p, miR-139, miR-101) was confirmed by RT-qPCR. Next, mRNA target prediction was performed for each differentially expressed miRNA. A functional analysis using the predicted gene targets revealed a significant enrichment of the RNA polymerase and MAPK signaling pathways in the comparison of cows with focal vs no lesions and with diffuse vs focal lesions, respectively. The identified miRNAs could be used for the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutical tools for PTB control.

Integrated Analysis of Transcriptome Profiles and lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA Competing Endogenous RNA Regulatory Network to Identify Biological Functional Effects of Genes and Pathways Associated with Johne’s Disease in Dairy Cattle

“…When an injury occurs, blood clots plug damaged blood vessels and mitigate blood loss. Furthermore, PAI-1 may be involved in cell migration and tissue remodeling [ 90 , 91 ]. This gene was involved in regulating biological process, macromolecule metabolic process, multicellular organismal process, protein metabolic process, responses to external stimulus, angiogenesis, protein binding, molecular function regulator activity, cellular anatomical entity, and extracellular space [ 92 , 93 ].…”

Individual- and Herd-Level Milk ELISA Test Status and Incidence for Paratuberculosis in Hubei Province, China

“…As a long-lasting disease, MAPinfected animals can often be affected by granulomatous enteritis, diarrhea, weight loss, hypoproteinemia, emaciation, a decline in milk supply, a decrease in reproductive ability, and ultimately mortality [5,6]. Globally, MAP leads to losses of more than USD 1.5 billion each year and annual economic losses of USD 21-79 per cow [6,7]. In the US, the economic losses are about USD 198.42 million; in Europe, the losses are around USD 364.31 million [6].…”