Articles | Volume 60, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-60-199-2017
https://doi.org/10.5194/aab-60-199-2017
Original study
 | 
19 Jul 2017
Original study |  | 19 Jul 2017

Identification and expression analysis of miR-144-5p and miR-130b-5p in dairy cattle

Zhixiong Li, Hongliang Wang, Ling Chen, Mengxing Zhai, Si Chen, Na Li, and Xiaolin Liu

Abstract. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can coordinate the main pathways involved in innate and adaptive immune responses by regulating gene expression. To explore the resistance to mastitis in cows, miR-144-5p and miR-130b-5p were identified in bovine mammary gland tissue and 14 potential target genes belonging to the chemokine signaling pathway, the arginine and proline metabolism pathway and the mRNA surveillance pathway were predicted. Subsequently, we estimated the relative expression of miR-144-5p and miR-130b-5p in cow mammary tissues by using stem-loop quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that the relative expression of miR-144-5p and miR-130b-5p in the mastitis-infected mammary tissues (n = 5) was significantly downregulated 0.14-fold (p < 0. 01) and upregulated 3.34-fold (p < 0. 01), respectively, compared to healthy tissues (n = 5). Our findings reveal that miR-144-5p and miR-130b-5p may have important roles in resistance to mastitis in dairy cattle.

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Short summary
Bovine mastitis, a prevalent and complex infectious disease, can result in significant dairy cattle losses. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in regulating innate and adaptive immune responses. The results in this paper show that the expression of miR-144-5p and miR-130b-5p in mastitis-infected mammary tissue was significantly downregulated and upregulated, respectively, compared to healthy tissue. Our findings may provide a method for the treatment of mastitis.