Table_1_Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic investigation of the genes and metabolites involved in swine follicular cyst formation.XLSX

Follicular cysts are a common reproductive disorder in mammals that is usually caused by stress. However, the pathogenesis of follicular cysts in sows remains unclear. To provide new insights into the mechanisms of follicular cyst formation in pigs, we conducted a combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis on theca interna and mural granulosa cells of follicular cysts and mature follicles. We identified 2,533 up-regulated and 1,355 down-regulated genes in follicular cysts, compared with mature follicles. These differentially expressed genes were mainly found in signaling pathways related to tumor formation and cortisol synthesis and secretion as shown by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, which predicted 4,362 upstream regulatory factors. The combined gene expression and pathway analysis identified the following genes as potential biomarkers for porcine follicular cysts: cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily C polypeptide 18, L-lactate dehydrogenase, carbamoyl-phosphate synthase, fibroblast growth factor 7, integrin binding sialoprotein, interleukin 23 receptor, prolactin receptor, epiregulin, interleukin 1 receptor type II, arginine vasopressin receptor 1A, fibroblast growth factor 10, claudin 7, G Protein Subunit Gamma 3, cholecystokinin B receptor and cytosolic phospholipase A2. Metabolomics analysis found significant differences in 87 metabolites, which were enriched in unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, and sphingolipid signaling pathways. These results provide valuable information on the molecular mechanisms of follicular cyst formation, which may facilitate the development of new therapeutics to prevent and treat follicular cysts.

卵泡囊肿是哺乳动物常见的生殖紊乱性疾病，其发病通常由应激引发。然而，母猪卵泡囊肿的具体发病机制仍未阐明。为深入解析猪卵泡囊肿的形成机制，本研究针对卵泡囊肿与成熟卵泡的卵泡内膜细胞及壁层颗粒细胞开展了转录组与代谢组联合分析。与成熟卵泡相比，卵泡囊肿样本中共鉴定出2533个上调基因与1355个下调基因。通过Ingenuity通路分析（Ingenuity Pathway Analysis）对差异表达基因进行富集分析，结果显示其主要富集于肿瘤发生、皮质醇合成与分泌相关信号通路，并预测得到4362个上游调控因子。联合基因表达与通路分析筛选出以下可作为猪卵泡囊肿潜在生物标志物的基因：细胞色素P450家族2亚家族C多肽18、L-乳酸脱氢酶、氨甲酰磷酸合成酶、成纤维细胞生长因子7、整合素结合唾液蛋白、白细胞介素23受体、催乳素受体、上皮调节蛋白、白细胞介素1受体II型、精氨酸加压素受体1A、成纤维细胞生长因子10、紧密连接蛋白7、G蛋白亚基γ3、胆囊收缩素B受体以及胞质磷脂酶A2。代谢组学分析共筛选得到87个差异代谢物，这些代谢物主要富集于不饱和脂肪酸生物合成及鞘脂信号通路。本研究结果为解析卵泡囊肿形成的分子机制提供了关键参考，可为卵泡囊肿的预防与治疗新疗法开发提供理论支撑。