|
Major histocompatibility complex genes exhibit a potential immunological role in mixed Eimeria-infected broiler cecum analyzed using RNA sequencing
|
Minjun Kim1 
, Thisarani Kalhari Ediriweera2
, Eunjin Cho2
, Yoonji Chung1
, Prabuddha Manjula3
, Myunghwan Yu1
, John Kariuki Macharia1
, Seonju Nam1
, Jun Heon Lee1,2,*
|
1Division of Animal and Dairy Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
2Department of Bio-AI Convergence, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
3Department of Animal Science, Uva Wellassa University, Badulla 90000, Sri Lanka |
Correspondence:
Jun Heon Lee, Tel: +82-42-821-5779, Fax: +82-42-825-9754, Email: junheon@cnu.ac.kr
|
|
Received: 11 October 2023 • Revised: 17 November 2023 • Accepted: 28 November 2023 |
|
|
| Abstract |
Objective
This study was conducted to investigate the differential expression of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene region in Eimeria-infected broiler.
Methods
We profiled gene expression of Eimeria-infected and uninfected ceca of broilers sampled at 4, 7, and 21 days post-infection (dpi) using RNA sequencing. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between two sample groups were identified at each time point. DEGs located on chicken chromosome 16 were used for further analysis. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis was conducted for the functional annotation of DEGs.
Results
Fourteen significant (false discovery rate <0.1) DEGs were identified at 4 and 7 dpi and categorized into three groups: MHC-Y class I genes, MHC-B region genes, and non-MHC genes. In Eimeria-infected broilers, MHC-Y class I genes were upregulated at 4 dpi but downregulated at 7 dpi. This result implies that MHC-Y class I genes initially activated an immune response, which was then suppressed by Eimeria. Of the MHC-B region genes, the DMB1 gene was upregulated, and TAP-related genes significantly implemented antigen processing for MHC class I at 4 dpi, which was supported by KEGG pathway analysis.
Conclusion
This study is the first to investigate MHC gene responses to coccidia infection in chickens using RNA sequencing. MHC-B and MHC-Y genes showed their immune responses in reaction to Eimeria infection. These findings are valuable for understanding chicken MHC gene function.
|
| Keywords:
Chicken; Coccidiosis; Differentially Expressed Gene; Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC); RNA sequencing |
|
PDF Links
Full text via DOI
Download Citation
