Comparison of the transcriptome in circulating leukocytes in early lactation between primiparous and multiparous cows provides evidence for age-related changes

• DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07977-5
• Publication Date: 2021-09-25T20:02:32Z
• Authors: Laura Buggiotti; Zhangrui Cheng; Mazdak Salavati; Claire D. Wathes; ; Alan Fahey; Alessandra Crisà; Ali Fouladi; Alistair Wylie; Amelie Vanlierde; Anders Fogh; Andreia Santoro; Andrew Cromie; Anne-Sophie Van L...; Armin Pearn; Arnold Evertson; Aurelie Laine; Beatriz Sanz Bern...; Bianca Moioli; Bonny Vanranst; Catherine Bastin; Charlotte Gaillard; Chen Tan; Chris Elsik; Cinzia Marchitelli; Claire Wathes; Clement Grelet; Colin Byrne; Conrad Ferris; Daragh Matthews; Deborah Triant; Dirk Werling; Elizabeth Matthews; Else Meyer; Eric Froidmont; Federica Signorelli; Fiona Carter; Francesco Napolitano; Francis Kearney; Frank Becker; Frederic Colinet; Frederic Dehareng; Gavin Conant; Geert Opsomer; Geoff Pollott; Guiqiang Wang; Guohua Hua; Hannes Bogaert; Haruko Takeda; Hedi Hammami; Huanchun Chen; Jan Vandepitte; Janne Rothmann; Jehan Ettema; Jenne De Koster; Jennifer McClure; Jerry Taylor; Johanna Hoglund; Junlong Zhao; Klaus Ingvartsen; Kristof Hermans; Leila Vandevelde; Leslie Foldager; Liguo Yang; Linda Kosten; Luca Buttazzoni; Marilou Ramos Pam...; Mark Crowe; Marlène Sciarretta; Martin Schulze; Martin Tang Sorensen; Matt Bell; Matt McClure; Matthew Lucy; Mazdak Salavati; Michel Bonneau; Michel Georges; Mieke Vaneetvelde; Miel Hostens; Mogens Krogh; Niamh McLoughlin; Nicolas Gengler; Pauline Rudd; Rodrigo Mota; Roisin O’Flaherty; Saied Naderi Darb...; Sander Moerman; Sergio Palma Vera; Shujun Zhang; Sinead Hallinan; Soren Ostergaard; Susanne Dahl; Thomas Andersen; Tine Rousing; Torben Larsen; Victor H. Silva d...; Xing Chen; Zhangrui Cheng
• Keywords: Adenosine Deaminase; Longevity; Cattle Diseases; QH426-470; 03 medical and health sciences; Genetics; Leukocytes; Animals; Humans; Lactation; 2. Zero hunger; 0303 health sciences; Cow; RNA-Binding Proteins; Primiparous; Multiparous; 3. Good health; Ageing; Milk; Cattle; Female; Transcriptome; TP248.13-248.65; Biotechnology; Research Article

Abstract Background Previous studies have identified many immune pathways which are consistently altered in humans and model organisms as they age. Dairy cows are often culled at quite young ages due to an inability to cope adequately with metabolic and infectious diseases, resulting in reduced milk production and infertility. Improved longevity is therefore a desirable trait which would benefit both farmers and their cows. This study analysed the transcriptome derived from RNA-seq data of leukocytes obtained from Holstein cows in early lactation with respect to lactation number.

Results Samples were divided into three lactation groups for analysis: i) primiparous (PP, n = 53), ii) multiparous in lactations 2–3 (MP 2–3, n = 121), and iii) MP in lactations 4–7 (MP > 3, n = 55). Leukocyte expression was compared between PP vs MP > 3 cows with MP 2–3 as background using DESeq2 followed by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Seven modules were significantly correlated (r ≥ 0.25) to the trait lactation number. Genes from the modules which were more highly expressed in either the PP or MP > 3 cows were pooled, and the gene lists subjected to David functional annotation cluster analysis. The top three clusters from modules more highly expressed in the PP cows all involved regulation of gene transcription, particularly zinc fingers. Another cluster included genes encoding enzymes in the mitochondrial beta-oxidation pathway. Top clusters up-regulated in MP > 3 cows included the terms Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis, C-type lectin, and Immunity. Differentially expressed candidate genes for ageing previously identified in the human blood transcriptome up-regulated in PP cows were mainly associated with T-cell function (CCR7, CD27, IL7R, CAMK4, CD28), mitochondrial ribosomal proteins (MRPS27, MRPS9, MRPS31), and DNA replication and repair (WRN). Those up-regulated in MP > 3 cows encoded immune defence proteins (LYZ, CTSZ, SREBF1, GRN, ANXA5, ADARB1).

Conclusions Genes and pathways associated with lactation number in cows were identified for the first time to date, and we found that many were comparable to those known to be associated with ageing in humans and model organisms. We also detected changes in energy utilization and immune responses in leukocytes from older cows.