Changes in long non-coding RNA expression profiles related to the antagonistic effects of Escherichia coli F17 on lamb spleens

Sheep colibacillosis is one of the most common bacterial diseases found at large-scale sheep farms. The aim of this study was to employ RNA-seq to screen differentially expressed (DE) long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that impart antagonistic or sensitive effects on Escherichia coli F17. In this study, individuals who had antagonistic or sensitive responses to E. coli F17 were identified by feeding E. coli F17 strains to Hu lambs. The sensitive group had higher levels of intestinal bacteria than that in the antagonistic group (P < 0.05), the jejunum showed various levels of mucosal tissue damage and had a dark colour, and disintegration of part of the small intestinal villi was observed. Totals of 34 DE lncRNAs and 703 DE mRNAs in two groups were identified. qRT-PCR results for 12 randomly selected DE lncRNAs and DE mRNAs were consistent with the RNA-seq data. Gene Ontology (GO), KEGG Pathway enrichment and lncRNA-mRNA interaction analyses identified 6 co-expressed genes, namely, MYO1G, TIMM29, CARM1, ADGRB1, SEPT4, and DESI2. This is the first study that has performed expression profiling of lncRNAs in the spleen of antagonistic and sensitive lambs. The identification of DE lncRNAs can facilitate investigations into the molecular mechanism underlying resistance to diarrhoea in sheep.