Blood Transcriptome Analysis Indicates Age-Associated Differences in Immune-Related Gene Expression in Captive South China Tigers (Panthera tigris amoynesis)
Blood Transcriptome Analysis Indicates Age-Associated Differences in Immune-Related Gene Expression in Captive South China Tigers (Panthera tigris amoynesis)
Qunxiu Liu1, Yingying Wang2 and Yaohua Yuan2*
ABSTRACT
The South China tiger (SCT) is the most endangered tiger subspecies. Considered to be extinct in the wild, the remaining individuals in captivity may represent the only hope of saving this species. Blood samples of 9 SCTs at different ages were collected and transcriptome analysis was conducted to explore the changes in immune-related genes and pathways expressed with increasing age. A total of 493 million raw paired-end reads and 478 million high-quality reads were obtained. Compared with cubs, adult tigers showed a total of 918 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (218 up-regulated and 700 down-regulated) and old tigers showed 210 DEGs (82 up-regulated and 128 down-regulated). For adult and old SCTs, the up-regulated DEGs functions were mainly enriched in immune system process (GO: 0002376), immune response (GO: 0006955) and inflammatory response functions (GO: 0006954). LOC102949930, CD86, C3, ANXA1, etc. were closely related to these functions. The cubs expressed more genes in B cell activation/proliferation, DNA replication and mitotic cell cycle process. LOC102965597, LOC107180566 and MZB1 were closely related to B cell activation/proliferation. This is the first study on the immune-related gene expression of SCTs, and the results suggest that cub SCTs do not have fully developed immune systems, and the aging immune systems develop and maintain both a sistentlyactivated innate immune response and adaptive immune function.
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