Effects of toll like receptor 4 overexpression on blood parameters, body composition, and gastrointestinal microbial diversity in sheep

Xu-Ting Song, Duo-Wei Zhao, Qi Lu, Jun Lu, Mei-Yu Qi, Ming-Hai Lu, Xiu-Qin Yang and Yu-Chang Yao
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Xu-Ting Song: College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, P.R. China
Duo-Wei Zhao: College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, P.R. China
Qi Lu: College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, P.R. China
Jun Lu: College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, P.R. China
Mei-Yu Qi: Institute of Animal Husbandry, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, P.R. China
Ming-Hai Lu: Department of Animal Science, Heilongjiang State Farms Science Technology Vocational College, Harbin, P.R. China
Xiu-Qin Yang: College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, P.R. China
Yu-Chang Yao: College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, P.R. China

Czech Journal of Animal Science, 2023, vol. 68, issue 5, 189-201

Abstract: Genetic modifications can improve the health status and disease resistance of farm animals. In the previous study, genetically modified (GM) sheep overexpressing toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) were produced. The GM sheep had stronger ability to eliminate invasive microbes compared to the wild-type (WT) sheep. Physiological status and immune homeostasis, blood parameters, body composition, and gastrointestinal microbial diversity were evaluated in this study to elucidate the effects of TLR4 overexpression. In a set of 10 GM rams, the TLR4 mRNA and protein expression levels in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells, muscle, kidney, and spleen were higher than those of the WT (n = 10; P < 0.05). No significant differences in the parameters of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and in the composition of circulating T lymphocyte subsets were observed between the GM and WT sheep (P > 0.05). Of the biochemical parameters, only total protein levels differed (were higher) in the GM sheep than in the WT sheep (P < 0.05) while no significant differences were observed for the other indices (P > 0.05). GM and WT sheep showed similar offal weights and muscle fatty acid and amino acid compositions (P > 0.05). Furthermore, TLR4 overexpression did not affect the community structure of the gastrointestinal tract microbiota. Eleven KEGG pathways associated with the TLR4 gene, physiology and biochemistry, growth and metabolism, fatty acids, and amino acids did not demonstrate significant differences between the GM and WT sheep (P > 0.05). In conclusion, TLR4 overexpression had no principal or adverse effects on the physiological development and health of sheep, except for the general mRNA and protein expression levels.

Keywords: genetically modified sheep; TLR4 gene; microbiomes; immune homeostasis; biosafety assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:68:y:2023:i:5:id:76-2022-cjas

DOI: 10.17221/76/2022-CJAS

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