Temporal transcriptomic changes in long non-coding RNAs and messenger RNAs involved in the host immune and metabolic response during Toxoplasma gondii lytic cycle

Wang, Sha Sha; Zhou, Chun Xue; Elsheikha, Hany M.; He, Jun Jun; Zou, Feng Cai; Zheng, Wen Bin; Zhu, Xing Quan; Zhao, Guang Hui

Abstract

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulators of various biological and pathological processes, in particular the inflammatory response by modulating the transcriptional control of inflammatory genes. However, the role of lncRNAs in regulating the immune and inflammatory responses during infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii remains largely unknown. Methods: We performed a longitudinal RNA sequencing analysis of human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) cells infected by T. gondii to identify differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs), and dysregulated pathways over the course of T. gondii lytic cycle. The transcriptome data were validated by qRT-PCR. Results: RNA sequencing revealed significant transcriptional changes in the infected HFFs. A total of 697, 1234, 1499, 873, 1466, 561, 676 and 716 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs), and 636, 1266, 1843, 2303, 3022, 1757, 3088 and 2531 differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) were identified at 1.5, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36 and 48h post-infection, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of DElncRNAs and DEmRNAs revealed that T. gondii infection altered the expression of genes involved in the regulation of host immune response (e.g., cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction), receptor signaling (e.g., NOD-like receptor signaling pathway), disease (e.g., Alzheimer's disease), and metabolism (e.g., fatty acid degradation). Conclusions: These results provide novel information for further research on the role of lncRNAs in immune regulation of T. gondii infection. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

Citation

Wang, S. S., Zhou, C. X., Elsheikha, H. M., He, J. J., Zou, F. C., Zheng, W. B., …Zhao, G. H. (2022). Temporal transcriptomic changes in long non-coding RNAs and messenger RNAs involved in the host immune and metabolic response during Toxoplasma gondii lytic cycle. Parasites and Vectors, 15, Article 22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-05140-3

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 21, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Jan 10, 2022
• Publication Date: Jan 10, 2022
• Deposit Date: Jan 10, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 17, 2022
• Journal: Parasites and Vectors
• Electronic ISSN: 1756-3305
• Publisher: Springer Nature
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 15
• Article Number: 22
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-05140-3
• Keywords: Infectious Diseases; Parasitology
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/7221259
• Publisher URL: https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13071-021-05140-3