Expression profiles of miRNA and miRNA-target gene networks in rabbit lung after challenge with Pasteurella multocida

Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida) causes the pathogenesis agent of many important diseases in livestock including rabbits. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) participate in the modulation of multiple biological processes. Thus, to depict dysregulated miRNAs during P. multocida insults, distinct miRNA expression patterns were explored at 1 d and 3 d post-infection (dpi) in rabbit lung by small-RNA deep sequencing. The biological functions of 32 differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) were elucidated via GO along with KEGG pathway analyses. Interaction networks between DE-miRNAs and the 7 most popular target genes (recognized by 21, 12 or 11 miRNAs) were constructed. The predicted 7 target genes validated by RT-qPCR and demonstrated that TTN, and HUWE1 were obviously inhibited during infection. LRP1 and Dystonin were significantly inhibited only at 1 dpi. There was no change in STARD9 mRNA levels at each infection time point. Nevertheless, NOTCH2 was gradually elevated with the extension of the infection time. Moreover, SYNE2 was significantly increased only at 3 dpi. Our data provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of action linked to immune response to P. multocida attacks, which has significance for the intervention strategies to P. multocida -infection treatment in human-related diseases