Transcriptomic Analysis of Skin Tissue Reveals Molecular Mechanisms of Thermal Adaptation in Cold-Exposed Lambs
Cold stress impacts lamb mortality, welfare, and productivity. Wool and skin insulate lambs, but the mechanisms underlying their response to colder environments remain unclear. Shorn lambs (<i>n</i> = 20) of similar age (8 months), of the Hulunbuir (<i>n</i> = 10; average 34....
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2025-05-01
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| author | Mengyu Feng Kaixi Ji Yutao Li Pâmela Almeida Alexandre Dan Jiao Yanping Liang Xia Du Xindong Cheng Huitong Zhou Jon G. H. Hickford Guo Yang |
| author_facet | Mengyu Feng Kaixi Ji Yutao Li Pâmela Almeida Alexandre Dan Jiao Yanping Liang Xia Du Xindong Cheng Huitong Zhou Jon G. H. Hickford Guo Yang |
| author_sort | Mengyu Feng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cold stress impacts lamb mortality, welfare, and productivity. Wool and skin insulate lambs, but the mechanisms underlying their response to colder environments remain unclear. Shorn lambs (<i>n</i> = 20) of similar age (8 months), of the Hulunbuir (<i>n</i> = 10; average 34.5 ± 0.70 kg) and Hu (<i>n</i> = 10; average 34.9 ± 0.79 kg) breeds, were raised at the Ecological and Agricultural Experimental Station, Gaolan, Gansu Province, People’s Republic of China (36°13″ N, 103°47″ E), at an altitude of 1780 m above sea level. These lambs were divided into four equal groups: Hulunbuir at −20 °C (HB−20), Hulunbuir at 15 °C (HB+15), Hu at −20 °C (HU−20), and Hu at 15 °C (HU+15). The groups were maintained at these temperatures in temperature-controlled facilities for 38 days. Skin tissues were analyzed with transcriptome sequencing, and selected wool and physiological traits were assessed. The HB−20 lambs had greater wool length growth (1.8 ± 0.13 vs. 1.0 ± 0.46 cm, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and epidermis thickness (20.0 ± 1.20 vs. 14.6 ± 0.87 μm, <i>p</i> = 0.006) but lower hair follicle density (33.6 ± 2.11 vs. 42.7 ± 3.06 per mm<sup>2</sup>, <i>p</i> = 0.041), rectal temperature (38.1 ± 0.10 vs. 38.8 ± 0.04 °C, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and respiratory rate (15.5 ± 1.08 vs. 24.0 ± 1.89 breaths/min, <i>p</i> = 0.004), compared to the HB+15 lambs. Similar differences in these traits were observed with the Hu lambs at the two temperatures. Transcriptome analyses revealed the activation of pathways related to immune and endocrine systems, signal transduction, and development and regeneration, irrespective of breed at −20 °C. The TNF signaling pathway and osteoclast differentiation may play roles in cold adaptation, as they are associated with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified in the Hulunbuir lambs, as well as shared DEGs between both breeds. This study revealed physiological and molecular differences in lambs exposed to lower temperatures and suggests potential targets for improving cold tolerance, welfare, and productivity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-127fa7d9cee246f6be31b3b48cab91cf |
| institution | DOAJ |
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| spelling | doaj-art-127fa7d9cee246f6be31b3b48cab91cf2025-08-20T03:14:35ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-05-011510140510.3390/ani15101405Transcriptomic Analysis of Skin Tissue Reveals Molecular Mechanisms of Thermal Adaptation in Cold-Exposed LambsMengyu Feng0Kaixi Ji1Yutao Li2Pâmela Almeida Alexandre3Dan Jiao4Yanping Liang5Xia Du6Xindong Cheng7Huitong Zhou8Jon G. H. Hickford9Guo Yang10State Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaCSIRO Agriculture and Food, Brisbane 4067, AustraliaCSIRO Agriculture and Food, Brisbane 4067, AustraliaState Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaGene-Marker Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New ZealandGene-Marker Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New ZealandState Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaCold stress impacts lamb mortality, welfare, and productivity. Wool and skin insulate lambs, but the mechanisms underlying their response to colder environments remain unclear. Shorn lambs (<i>n</i> = 20) of similar age (8 months), of the Hulunbuir (<i>n</i> = 10; average 34.5 ± 0.70 kg) and Hu (<i>n</i> = 10; average 34.9 ± 0.79 kg) breeds, were raised at the Ecological and Agricultural Experimental Station, Gaolan, Gansu Province, People’s Republic of China (36°13″ N, 103°47″ E), at an altitude of 1780 m above sea level. These lambs were divided into four equal groups: Hulunbuir at −20 °C (HB−20), Hulunbuir at 15 °C (HB+15), Hu at −20 °C (HU−20), and Hu at 15 °C (HU+15). The groups were maintained at these temperatures in temperature-controlled facilities for 38 days. Skin tissues were analyzed with transcriptome sequencing, and selected wool and physiological traits were assessed. The HB−20 lambs had greater wool length growth (1.8 ± 0.13 vs. 1.0 ± 0.46 cm, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and epidermis thickness (20.0 ± 1.20 vs. 14.6 ± 0.87 μm, <i>p</i> = 0.006) but lower hair follicle density (33.6 ± 2.11 vs. 42.7 ± 3.06 per mm<sup>2</sup>, <i>p</i> = 0.041), rectal temperature (38.1 ± 0.10 vs. 38.8 ± 0.04 °C, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and respiratory rate (15.5 ± 1.08 vs. 24.0 ± 1.89 breaths/min, <i>p</i> = 0.004), compared to the HB+15 lambs. Similar differences in these traits were observed with the Hu lambs at the two temperatures. Transcriptome analyses revealed the activation of pathways related to immune and endocrine systems, signal transduction, and development and regeneration, irrespective of breed at −20 °C. The TNF signaling pathway and osteoclast differentiation may play roles in cold adaptation, as they are associated with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified in the Hulunbuir lambs, as well as shared DEGs between both breeds. This study revealed physiological and molecular differences in lambs exposed to lower temperatures and suggests potential targets for improving cold tolerance, welfare, and productivity.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/10/1405transcriptomeHulunbuir lambsHu lambscoldskinwool |
| spellingShingle | Mengyu Feng Kaixi Ji Yutao Li Pâmela Almeida Alexandre Dan Jiao Yanping Liang Xia Du Xindong Cheng Huitong Zhou Jon G. H. Hickford Guo Yang Transcriptomic Analysis of Skin Tissue Reveals Molecular Mechanisms of Thermal Adaptation in Cold-Exposed Lambs Animals transcriptome Hulunbuir lambs Hu lambs cold skin wool |
| title | Transcriptomic Analysis of Skin Tissue Reveals Molecular Mechanisms of Thermal Adaptation in Cold-Exposed Lambs |
| title_full | Transcriptomic Analysis of Skin Tissue Reveals Molecular Mechanisms of Thermal Adaptation in Cold-Exposed Lambs |
| title_fullStr | Transcriptomic Analysis of Skin Tissue Reveals Molecular Mechanisms of Thermal Adaptation in Cold-Exposed Lambs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transcriptomic Analysis of Skin Tissue Reveals Molecular Mechanisms of Thermal Adaptation in Cold-Exposed Lambs |
| title_short | Transcriptomic Analysis of Skin Tissue Reveals Molecular Mechanisms of Thermal Adaptation in Cold-Exposed Lambs |
| title_sort | transcriptomic analysis of skin tissue reveals molecular mechanisms of thermal adaptation in cold exposed lambs |
| topic | transcriptome Hulunbuir lambs Hu lambs cold skin wool |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/10/1405 |
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