Analysis of diet-induced differential methylation, expression, and interactions of lncRNA and protein-coding genes in mouse liver

Sci Rep. 2018 Aug 1;8(1):11537. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-29993-4.

Abstract

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate expression of protein-coding genes in cis through chromatin modifications including DNA methylation. Here we interrogated whether lncRNA genes may regulate transcription and methylation of their flanking or overlapping protein-coding genes in livers of mice exposed to a 12-week cholesterol-rich Western-style high fat diet (HFD) relative to a standard diet (STD). Deconvolution analysis of cell type-specific marker gene expression suggested similar hepatic cell type composition in HFD and STD livers. RNA-seq and validation by nCounter technology revealed differential expression of 14 lncRNA genes and 395 protein-coding genes enriched for functions in steroid/cholesterol synthesis, fatty acid metabolism, lipid localization, and circadian rhythm. While lncRNA and protein-coding genes were co-expressed in 53 lncRNA/protein-coding gene pairs, both were differentially expressed only in 4 lncRNA/protein-coding gene pairs, none of which included protein-coding genes in overrepresented pathways. Furthermore, 5-methylcytosine DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing and targeted bisulfite sequencing revealed no differential DNA methylation of genes in overrepresented pathways. These results suggest lncRNA/protein-coding gene interactions in cis play a minor role mediating hepatic expression of lipid metabolism/localization and circadian clock genes in response to chronic HFD feeding.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA Methylation*
  • Diet, High-Fat*
  • Gene Expression Profiling*
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Liver / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Nucleic Acid Hybridization*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding / metabolism*
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • RNA, Long Noncoding