PMID- 27078025 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20160830 LR - 20190219 IS - 1932-6203 (Electronic) IS - 1932-6203 (Linking) VI - 11 IP - 4 DP - 2016 TI - Identification of Differentially Expressed Genes Associated with Litter Size in Berkshire Pig Placenta. PG - e0153311 LID - 10.1371/journal.pone.0153311 [doi] LID - e0153311 AB - Improvement in litter size has become of great interest in the pig industry because fecundity is directly related to sow reproductive life. Improved reproduction has thus been achieved by elucidating the molecular functions of genes associated with fecundity. In the present study, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) via transcriptomic analysis using RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) in Berkshire pig placentas from larger (LLG, mean litter size >12) and smaller (SLG, mean litter size < 6.5) litter size groups. In total 588 DEGs were identified (p < 0.05, > 1.5-fold change), of which 98 were upregulated, while 490 were downregulated in the LLG compared with the SLG. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment was also performed. We concluded that 129 of the 588 DEGs were closely related to litter size according to reproduction related genes selected based on previous reports, as 110 genes were downregulated and 19 upregulated in the LLG compared with the SLG. RT-qPCR utilizing specific primers targeting the early growth response 2 (EGR2), pheromaxein c subunit (PHEROC) and endothelial lipase (LIPG) genes showed high accordance with RNA-Seq results. Furthermore, we investigated the upstream regulators of these three genes in the placenta. We found that WNT9B, a Wnt signaling pathway molecule, and IL-6, known inducers of EGR2 and LIPG, respectively, were significantly increased in LLG compared with SLG. We believe that the induction of IL-6 and LIPG may play an important role in increasing nutrition supply through the placenta from the sow to the piglet during gestation. These results provide novel molecular insights into pig reproduction. FAU - Kwon, Seul Gi AU - Kwon SG AD - Swine Science and Technology Center, Gyeongnam National University of Science & Technology, Jinju, South Korea. FAU - Hwang, Jung Hye AU - Hwang JH AD - Swine Science and Technology Center, Gyeongnam National University of Science & Technology, Jinju, South Korea. FAU - Park, Da Hye AU - Park DH AD - Swine Science and Technology Center, Gyeongnam National University of Science & Technology, Jinju, South Korea. FAU - Kim, Tae Wan AU - Kim TW AD - Swine Science and Technology Center, Gyeongnam National University of Science & Technology, Jinju, South Korea. FAU - Kang, Deok Gyeong AU - Kang DG AD - Swine Science and Technology Center, Gyeongnam National University of Science & Technology, Jinju, South Korea. FAU - Kang, Kyung Hee AU - Kang KH AD - Swine Science and Technology Center, Gyeongnam National University of Science & Technology, Jinju, South Korea. FAU - Kim, Il-Suk AU - Kim IS AD - Department of Animal Resource Technology, Gyeongnam National University of Science & Technology, Jinju, South Korea. FAU - Park, Hwa Chun AU - Park HC AD - Dasan Pig Breeding Co., Namwon, South Korea. FAU - Na, Chong-Sam AU - Na CS AD - Department of Animal Biotechnology, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, South Korea. FAU - Ha, Jeongim AU - Ha J AD - Swine Science and Technology Center, Gyeongnam National University of Science & Technology, Jinju, South Korea. FAU - Kim, Chul Wook AU - Kim CW AD - Swine Science and Technology Center, Gyeongnam National University of Science & Technology, Jinju, South Korea. LA - eng PT - Journal Article PT - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't DEP - 20160414 PL - United States TA - PLoS One JT - PloS one JID - 101285081 SB - IM MH - Animals MH - Female MH - Gene Expression Profiling/methods MH - Gene Ontology MH - Litter Size/*genetics MH - Placenta/*metabolism MH - Pregnancy MH - Reproduction/genetics MH - Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction MH - Sequence Analysis, RNA MH - Swine/*genetics MH - *Transcriptome PMC - PMC4831801 COIS- Competing Interests: The authors have the following interests. HCP is employed by the Dasan Pig Breeding Co. which received a grant from the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Republic of Korea as collaboration with Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology. They play a role in the preparation of pig's placenta in the present study. There are no patents, products in development or marketed products to declare. This does not alter the authors' adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials, as detailed online in the guide for authors. EDAT- 2016/04/15 06:00 MHDA- 2016/08/31 06:00 PMCR- 2016/04/14 CRDT- 2016/04/15 06:00 PHST- 2015/08/14 00:00 [received] PHST- 2016/03/28 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2016/04/15 06:00 [entrez] PHST- 2016/04/15 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2016/08/31 06:00 [medline] PHST- 2016/04/14 00:00 [pmc-release] AID - PONE-D-15-25598 [pii] AID - 10.1371/journal.pone.0153311 [doi] PST - epublish SO - PLoS One. 2016 Apr 14;11(4):e0153311. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153311. eCollection 2016.