Molecular mechanisms in lung tissue of yak provide insights into high-altitude adaptation by transcriptome-wide analysis [miRNA-seq]

Purpose：Yak long-term colonization and widespread distribution across the plateau can be serve as an ideal natural animal model to provide insights into the adaptive evolution of other plateau species, including humans. Methods:To exploring the molecular mechanisms of lung tissue in yak to response to hypoxia, the mRNA, lncRNA and miRNA of lung tissue from cattle and three different altitude yaks were sequenced. Results:A total of 21764 mRNAs, 14168 lncRNAs and 1209miRNAs (305 known and 904 novel miRNAs)were identifed.Compared yak with cattle, 4975 mRNAs, 3326 lncRNAs and 75 miRNAs were differentially expressed. 756 mRNAs, 346 lncRNAs and 83 miRNAs were found to be differentially expressed amongthree different altitude yaks(fold change≥2 and P-value<0.05). Conclusions:The differentially expressed genes were functionally enriched in long-chain fatty acid metabolic process and protein processing between yak and cattle, while the immune response and cell cycle were enriched among three different altitude yaks. Furthermore, the competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) networks were identified to illustrate their roles. Lung tissues of yak and cattle to identify induced lncRNAs, miRNA and mRNA.