Integrative and comparative analysis of transcriptional profiles and competitive endogenous RNA regulatory networks to identify key genes associated with heat stress in broiler chickens

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Animal Science, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Alborz, Iran.

2 Corresponding Author, Department of Animal Science, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Alborz, Iran.

Abstract

Broilers are particularly sensitive to high ambient temperatures, which may have a negative impact on their welfare and production efficiency. The aim of the study was to combine a literature review analysis of transcriptional profiling and a competitive analysis of endogenous regulatory network (CERNA) to identify the key messenger and non-coding RNAs involved in the molecular regulation of the cells of the pituitary gland and the brain in heat stress broiler chickens. Overall, two long non-coding RNA, 11 microRNAs and 426 common mRNAs and genes were identified that showed significant differences in expression between the two tissues. From the analysis, 12 major genes (HSP90A1, HSPA5, HSP90B1, HSPA4, HUSY1, AHSA2, ALB, DNAJA1, DNAJA4, HSPA4L, and HSPH1) were found to be more extensively expressed in broiler chickens under heat stress than in control chickens. In addition, after reconstructing the competitive endogenous RNA regulatory network and the associated candidate modules, the main important metabolic signalling pathways identified were protein-folding chaperones, cellular component organisation, protein-binding to heat shock proteins, the endoplasmic reticulum chaperone complex, and protein-processing signalling pathways in the endoplasmic reticulum. Overall, considering the identified RNAs involved in the ceRNA regulatory network that underlie phenotypic differences in the severity of heat stress, this study may provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the control of heat stress severity and resistance in broiler chickens.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Iranian Journal of animal Science

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 15 April 2025

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 25 February 2025
  • Revise Date: 27 March 2025
  • Accept Date: 06 April 2025

Share

How to cite

Statistics