ACTA VETERINARIA ET ZOOTECHNICA SINICA ›› 2016, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (2): 296-304.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2016.02.012

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The Study on Epigenetic Mechanism of IGF2 Expression in Spleen and Thymus Regulated by Folic Acid in Broilers

LIU Yan-li,SHEN Jing,ZHI Li-hui,LI Shi-zhao,YAO Jun-hu,YANG Xiao-jun*   

  1. (College of Animal Science and Technology,Northwest A&F University,Yangling 712100,China)
  • Received:2015-04-13 Online:2016-02-23 Published:2016-02-23

Abstract:

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of folic acid injected in incubation period on IGF2 expression in spleen and thymus in broilers,further exploring epigenetic mechanism of folic acid modulating gene expression.A total of 360 eggs,whose weight and size were mostly same,were selected and randomly assigned to 4 treatments.0,50,100 and 150 μg folic acid were injected into eggs,respectively on E11 of incubation.After hatching,48 healthy 1-day-old chickens selected from each treatment were divided into 6 replicates and 8 birds each.Spleens and thymus were collected at the age of 21 and 42 d.The mRNA expression of IGF2 were tested by RT-PCR;BSP was used to determine the methylation level of IGF2 gene promoter region from -648 to -479 bp and DNase I-qPCR for chromatin structure of the IGF2 promoter from -847 to -616 bp.The results were shown as followed:100 and 150 μg folic acid groups improved hatchability of fertilized eggs(P<0.05);150 μg folic acid injected on E11 significantly up-regulated IGF2 expression in spleen (P<0.05) and reduced methylation level of gene promoter at the age of 42 d (P<0.05);Chromatin accessibility of IGF2 promoter region was improved in 150 μg folic acid group at the age of 42 d(P<0.05)in spleen.Different from spleen,150 μg folic acid didn’t affect IGF2 expression in thymus at the age of 42 d(P>0.05)but significantly increased gene expression in thymus at the age of 21 d(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,150 μg folic acid improved chromatin accessibility of IGF2 promoter in thymus at the age of 21 d(P<0.05).Overall,the results indicated that folic acid injected on E11 could affect IGF2 expression in tissues by altering methylation level and chromatin structure of gene promoter,and there exists specificity on organs and time.

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