Effect of Rickettsia heilongjiangensis infection on the transcription of immune-related genes in the spleen of mice

• Published in: Jie fang jun yi xue za zhi Vol. 47; no. 4; p. 326
• Main Authors: Yong-Hui, YU, Chang-Song, DUAN, JIA, Jun, Yue-E ZHAO, Dong-Sheng, ZHOU, Bo-Hai, WEN, OUYANG, Xuan, Xiao-Lu, XIONG
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: Beijing People's Military Medical Press 01.01.2022
• Subjects: Apoptosis; Cytokines; Genes; Infections
• ISSN: 0577-7402
• DOI: 10.11855/j.issn.0577-7402.2022.04.0326

Objective　To screen key targets modulating the progression of Rickettsia heilongjiang infection using a mouse infection model by profiling the transcription expression dynamics of immune-related genes. Methods　A total of 20 female C3H/ HeN mice were randomized into 4 groups (5 mice/group): 0 hpi (hours post-infection), 3 hpi, 3 dpi (days post-infection), and 6 dpi. Animals were infected with 5×106 CFU Rickettsia heilongjiangensis intravenously. We harvested and extracted total RNA from spleens of animals at the indicated time points. After sequencing the total RNA, we further analyzed the sequencing results by GO annotation, R language enrichment, and KEGG visualization function analysis. Results　A total of 19 930 mRNAs were specifically transcribed in the spleen post-infection. Using GO annotation and enrichment, we identified three types of immune-related genes with significant changes: first, 35 innate immune-related genes, among which the transcription of irg1 and gbp10 genes involved in the IFN-γ signali