Transcriptomic profiling of long non-coding RNAs and messenger RNAs in the liver of mice during Toxoplasma gondii infection
Abstract Background Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite that can infect a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including humans. It poses significant health risks, particularly in immunocompromised individuals and during pregnancy, leading to severe disease manifestations. The li...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-06053-z |
| _version_ | 1797350086324256768 |
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| author | Yang Zou Xing Yang Chao Chen He Ma Hong-Wei Cao Jing Jiang Xin-Yu Wei Xiao-Xuan Zhang |
| author_facet | Yang Zou Xing Yang Chao Chen He Ma Hong-Wei Cao Jing Jiang Xin-Yu Wei Xiao-Xuan Zhang |
| author_sort | Yang Zou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite that can infect a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including humans. It poses significant health risks, particularly in immunocompromised individuals and during pregnancy, leading to severe disease manifestations. The liver, being a crucial organ involved in immune response and metabolic regulation, plays a critical role in the host's defense against T. gondii infection. Methods In this study, we utilized RNA sequencing to investigate the expression profiles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in the liver of mice infected with T. gondii. By employing this method, we obtained a comprehensive overview of the alterations in gene expression occurring in the liver during infection. Results By comparing the infected groups to the control groups, we identified numerous differentially expressed lncRNAs DElncRNAs and DEmRNAs at two stages of infection. Specifically, at the acute infection stage, we found 628 DElncRNAs, and 6346 DEmRNAs. At the chronic infection stage, we identified 385 DElncRNAs and 2513 DEmRNAs. Furthermore, we identified 1959 commonly expressed DEmRNAs, including IL27, Nos2, and Cxcr2, across two infection stages. Enrichment and co-location analyses revealed pathways linked to immune and inflammatory responses during T. gondii infection. Notably, through co-location analysis, our analysis revealed several DElncRNAs, including Gm29156, Gm29157, and Gm28644, which are potentially implicated in the progression of liver inflammation induced by T. gondii. Additionally, functional enrichment analysis disclosed stage-specific characteristics of liver inflammation and immune response, alongside changes in metabolic regulation and immunosuppression pathways. Conclusions Our findings provide valuable insights into the expression patterns of lncRNAs and mRNAs in the liver at different stages of T. gondii infection. We identified potential regulatory factors and pathways implicated in liver inflammation, thereby enhancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying liver inflammation and immune responses during T. gondii infection. These findings could contribute to the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for liver inflammation in the context of T. gondii infection. Graphical Abstract |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:40:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bca3862217724f58b0251384b139b78d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:40:41Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-bca3862217724f58b0251384b139b78d2024-01-21T12:12:32ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052024-01-0117111010.1186/s13071-023-06053-zTranscriptomic profiling of long non-coding RNAs and messenger RNAs in the liver of mice during Toxoplasma gondii infectionYang Zou0Xing Yang1Chao Chen2He Ma3Hong-Wei Cao4Jing Jiang5Xin-Yu Wei6Xiao-Xuan Zhang7School of Pharmacy, Yancheng Teachers UniversityDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Dali UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural UniversitySchool of Pharmacy, Yancheng Teachers UniversitySchool of Life Sciences, Baicheng Normal UniversityCollege of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural UniversityAbstract Background Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite that can infect a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including humans. It poses significant health risks, particularly in immunocompromised individuals and during pregnancy, leading to severe disease manifestations. The liver, being a crucial organ involved in immune response and metabolic regulation, plays a critical role in the host's defense against T. gondii infection. Methods In this study, we utilized RNA sequencing to investigate the expression profiles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in the liver of mice infected with T. gondii. By employing this method, we obtained a comprehensive overview of the alterations in gene expression occurring in the liver during infection. Results By comparing the infected groups to the control groups, we identified numerous differentially expressed lncRNAs DElncRNAs and DEmRNAs at two stages of infection. Specifically, at the acute infection stage, we found 628 DElncRNAs, and 6346 DEmRNAs. At the chronic infection stage, we identified 385 DElncRNAs and 2513 DEmRNAs. Furthermore, we identified 1959 commonly expressed DEmRNAs, including IL27, Nos2, and Cxcr2, across two infection stages. Enrichment and co-location analyses revealed pathways linked to immune and inflammatory responses during T. gondii infection. Notably, through co-location analysis, our analysis revealed several DElncRNAs, including Gm29156, Gm29157, and Gm28644, which are potentially implicated in the progression of liver inflammation induced by T. gondii. Additionally, functional enrichment analysis disclosed stage-specific characteristics of liver inflammation and immune response, alongside changes in metabolic regulation and immunosuppression pathways. Conclusions Our findings provide valuable insights into the expression patterns of lncRNAs and mRNAs in the liver at different stages of T. gondii infection. We identified potential regulatory factors and pathways implicated in liver inflammation, thereby enhancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying liver inflammation and immune responses during T. gondii infection. These findings could contribute to the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for liver inflammation in the context of T. gondii infection. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-06053-zToxoplasma gondiiRNA sequencingLong non-coding RNAsCo-locationLiverStage-specific characteristics |
| spellingShingle | Yang Zou Xing Yang Chao Chen He Ma Hong-Wei Cao Jing Jiang Xin-Yu Wei Xiao-Xuan Zhang Transcriptomic profiling of long non-coding RNAs and messenger RNAs in the liver of mice during Toxoplasma gondii infection Parasites & Vectors Toxoplasma gondii RNA sequencing Long non-coding RNAs Co-location Liver Stage-specific characteristics |
| title | Transcriptomic profiling of long non-coding RNAs and messenger RNAs in the liver of mice during Toxoplasma gondii infection |
| title_full | Transcriptomic profiling of long non-coding RNAs and messenger RNAs in the liver of mice during Toxoplasma gondii infection |
| title_fullStr | Transcriptomic profiling of long non-coding RNAs and messenger RNAs in the liver of mice during Toxoplasma gondii infection |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transcriptomic profiling of long non-coding RNAs and messenger RNAs in the liver of mice during Toxoplasma gondii infection |
| title_short | Transcriptomic profiling of long non-coding RNAs and messenger RNAs in the liver of mice during Toxoplasma gondii infection |
| title_sort | transcriptomic profiling of long non coding rnas and messenger rnas in the liver of mice during toxoplasma gondii infection |
| topic | Toxoplasma gondii RNA sequencing Long non-coding RNAs Co-location Liver Stage-specific characteristics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-06053-z |
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