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RNA-Seq of Liver From Pigs Divergent in Feed Efficiency Highlights Shifts in Macronutrient Metabolism, Hepatic Growth and Immune Response
Horodyska, Justyna Hamill, Ruth M. Reyer, Henry Trakooljul, Nares Lawlor, Peadar G. McCormack, Ursula M. Wimmers, Klaus
Horodyska, Justyna
Hamill, Ruth M.
Reyer, Henry
Trakooljul, Nares
Lawlor, Peadar G.
McCormack, Ursula M.
Wimmers, Klaus
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2019-02-19
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Horodyska J, Hamill RM, Reyer H, Trakooljul N, Lawlor PG, McCormack UM and Wimmers K (2019) RNA-Seq of Liver From Pigs Divergent in Feed Efficiency Highlights Shifts in Macronutrient Metabolism, Hepatic Growth and Immune Response. Front. Genet. 10:117. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00117
Abstract
Liver is a metabolically complex organ that influences nutrient partitioning and potentially
modulates the efficiency of converting energy acquired from macronutrients ingestion
into a muscle and/or adipose tissue (referred to as feed efficiency, FE). The objective
of this study was to sequence the hepatic tissue transcriptome of closely related but
differently feed efficient pigs (n = 16) and identify relevant biological processes that
underpin the differences in liver phenotype between FE groups. Liver weight did not
significantly differ between the FE groups, however, blood parameters showed that total
protein, glucose, cholesterol and percentage of lymphocytes were significantly greater
in high-FE pigs. Ontology analysis revealed carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism
to be significantly enriched with differentially expressed genes. In particular, high-FE pigs
exhibited gene expression patterns suggesting improved absorption of carbohydrates
and cholesterol as well as enhanced reverse cholesterol transport. Furthermore, the
inferred decrease in bile acid synthesis in high-FE pigs may contribute to the observed
greater levels of serum glucose, which can be then delivered to cells and utilized for
growth and maintenance. Gene ontology analysis also suggested that livers of more
efficient pigs may be characterized by higher protein turnover and increased epithelial
cell differentiation, whereby an enhanced quantity of invariant natural killer T-cells and
viability of natural killer cells could induce a quicker and more effective hepatic response
to inflammatory stimuli. Our findings suggest that this prompt hepatic response to
inflammation in high-FE group may contribute to the more efficient utilization of nutrients
for growth in these animals.