Integrated time-serial transcriptome networks reveal common innate and tissue-specific adaptive immune responses to PRRSV infection

Lim, Byeonghwi; Kim, Sangwook; Lim, Kyu-Sang; Jeong, Chang-Gi; Kim, Seung-Chai; Lee, Sang-Myeong; Park, Choi-Kyu; te Pas, Marinus F. W.; Gho, Haesu; Kim, Tae-Hun; Lee, Kyung-Tai; Kim, Won-Il; Kim, Jun-Mo

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection is the most important viral disease causing severe economic losses in the swine industry. However, mechanisms underlying gene expression control in immunity-responsible tissues at different time points during PRRSV infection are poorly understood. We constructed an integrated gene co-expression network and identified tissue- and time-dependent biological mechanisms of PRRSV infection through bioinformatics analysis using three tissues (lungs, bronchial lymph nodes [BLNs], and tonsils) via RNA-Seq. Three groups with specific expression patterns (i.e., the 3-dpi, lung, and BLN groups) were discovered. The 3 dpi-specific group showed antiviral and innate-immune signalling similar to the case for influenza A infection. Moreover, we observed adaptive immune responses in the lung-specific group based on various cytokines, while the BLN-specific group showed down-regulated AMPK signalling related to viral replication. Our study may provide comprehensive insights into PRRSV infection, as well as useful information for vaccine development.