Exosomal circ_CCDC7/gga-miR-6568-3p/Pax7 axis accelerates the differentiation of chicken embryonic stem cells infected with subgroup J avian leukosis virus

• Published in: Poultry science 2024-08, Vol.103 (8), p.103898, Article 103898
• Main Authors: Zeng, Xiaona, Wang, Ruonan, Tang, Shengqiu, Dong, Xiaoying, Liao, Liqin, Chen, Sheng, kong, Jie, Chen, Liyi, Li, Yajuan, Shao, Guanming, Zhang, Xinheng, Wong, Yung Hou, Xie, Qingmei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ALV-J; chicken embryonic stem cell; circRNA
• ISSN: 0032-5791; 1525-3171; 1525-3171
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103898

Exosome-mediated horizontal and vertical transmission of subgroup J avian leukosis virus (ALV-J) in poultry flocks can lead to growth inhibition and severe immunosuppression. However, there are few reports on the early infection of chicken embryonic stem cells (cESCs) with ALV-J. In this study, we confirmed that early infection with ALV-J can accelerate the differentiation of cESCs and promote the secretion of exosomes. To investigate the modulation strategy of ALV-J in cESCs, circRNA sequencing was performed for further analysis. A total of 305 differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs) were obtained, including 71 upregulated DECs. Circ-CCDC7 was found to be the most upregulated DEC and was assessed by qRT-PCR, with the result consistent with the result of circRNA-seq. Based on qRT-PCR, gga-miR-6568-3p was found to be the target of the top 3 DECs, including circ-CCDC7, and the stem cell marker gene Pax7 was identified as the target gene of gga-miR-6568-3p. This study demonstrated that exosomal circ-CCDC7/gga-miR-6568-3p/Pax7 accelerates the differentiation of cESCs after early infection with ALV-J.