Histone methylation analysis and pathway predictions in chickens after MDV infection

PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e41849. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041849. Epub 2012 Jul 26.

Abstract

Marek's disease (MD) is a lymphoproliferative disease in chicken induced by Marek's disease virus (MDV). Although studies have focused on the genetic differences between the resistant and susceptible chicken, less is known about the role of epigenetic factors in MD. In this study, genome-wide histone modifications in the non-MHC-associated resistant and susceptible chicken lines were examined. We found that tri-methylation at histone H3 Lys4 (H3K4me3) enrichment is positively correlated with the expression of protein coding genes as well as microRNA (miRNA) genes, whereas tri-methylation at histone H3 Lys27 (H3K27me3) exhibits a negative correlation. By identifying line-specific histone modifications in MDV infection, we found unique H3K4me3 islands in the resistant chicken activated genes, which are related to immune response and cell adhesion. Interestingly, we also found some miRNAs from unique H3K27me3 patterns in the susceptible chickens that targeted genes involved in 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-receptor and adrenergic receptor pathways. In conclusion, dynamic line-specific histone modifications in response to MDV infection suggested that intrinsic epigenetic mechanisms may play a role in MD-resistance and -susceptibility.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chickens*
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • Disease Resistance
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Genomics
  • Histones / chemistry
  • Histones / metabolism*
  • Lysine / metabolism
  • Marek Disease / genetics
  • Marek Disease / immunology
  • Marek Disease / metabolism*
  • Methylation
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Poultry Diseases / genetics
  • Poultry Diseases / immunology
  • Poultry Diseases / metabolism*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Species Specificity
  • Spleen / metabolism
  • Transcriptome

Substances

  • Histones
  • MicroRNAs
  • Lysine

Grants and funding

This project was supported by National Research Initiative Competitive Grant no. USDA-NRI/NIFA 2008-35204-04660 and USDA-NRI/NIFA 2010-65205-20588 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.