Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2021, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (9): 2626-2632.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2021.09.026

• BASIC VETERINARY MEDICINE • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Quantitative Analysis of FMDV Receptor Integrin mRNA Levels in Ovine Tissues at Different Developmental Stages

ZHANG Zhidong1, RYAN Eoin2, LI Yanmin1*   

  1. 1. College of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China;
    2. Pirbright Institute, Pirbright GU24 0 NF, UK
  • Received:2021-01-07 Online:2021-09-23 Published:2021-09-26

Abstract: Field strains of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) utilize integrin heterodimers αvβ1, αvβ3, αvβ6 and αvβ8 as receptors to gain entry to cells. Using novel real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays, levels of mRNA of the integrin subunits αv, β3, β6 and β8 were quantified in tissue samples taken from ovine foetuses at 45, 75 and 110 days of gestation, neonatal lambs and adult ewes. The results showed that in the coronary band that the level of β6 mRNA of adult ewes and neonatal lambs was lower than that of foetuses at 75 and 110 days of gestation; In the heart, the level of β6 mRNA of adult ewes, neonatal lambs and foetuses at 110 days of gestation was higher than that of foetuses at 45 and 75 days of gestation; In the muscle, the level of β6 and β8 mRNA of foetuses and neonatal lambs was higher than that of foetuses at 45 and 75 days of gestation. In the tongue epithelium, the level of β3 mRNA in adult ewes was lower than that in other stages. In the soft palate and tonsil, there was little variation in the level of integrin mRNA between stages. In this study, the quantitative changes in integrin subunit mRNA distribution in sheep across different developmental stages have been assessed for the first time, which would provide a useful insight into the role of integrins in the pathogenesis of FMD in vivo.

Key words: foot-and-mouth disease virus, integrins, qRT-PCR, sheep

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