Blood transcriptomics mirror regulatory mechanisms during hibernation-a comparative analysis of the Djungarian hamster with other mammalian species

TY - JOUR

T1 - Blood transcriptomics mirror regulatory mechanisms during hibernation-a comparative analysis of the Djungarian hamster with other mammalian species

AU - Cuyutupa, Valeria Rojas

AU - Moser, Dominique

AU - Diedrich, Victoria

AU - Cheng, Yiming

AU - Billaud, Jean-Noël

AU - Haugg, Elena

AU - Singer, Dominique

AU - Bereiter-Hahn, Jürgen

AU - Herwig, Annika

AU - Choukér, Alexander

N1 - © 2023. The Author(s).

PY - 2023/10

Y1 - 2023/10

N2 - Hibernation enables many species of the mammalian kingdom to overcome periods of harsh environmental conditions. During this physically inactive state metabolic rate and body temperature are drastically downregulated, thereby reducing energy requirements (torpor) also over shorter time periods. Since blood cells reflect the organism´s current condition, it was suggested that transcriptomic alterations in blood cells mirror the torpor-associated physiological state. Transcriptomics on blood cells of torpid and non-torpid Djungarian hamsters and QIAGEN Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) revealed key target molecules (TMIPA), which were subjected to a comparative literature analysis on transcriptomic alterations during torpor/hibernation in other mammals. Gene expression similarities were identified in 148 TMIPA during torpor nadir among various organs and phylogenetically different mammalian species. Based on TMIPA, IPA network analyses corresponded with described inhibitions of basic cellular mechanisms and immune system-associated processes in torpid mammals. Moreover, protection against damage to the heart, kidney, and liver was deduced from this gene expression pattern in blood cells. This study shows that blood cell transcriptomics can reflect the general physiological state during torpor nadir. Furthermore, the understanding of molecular processes for torpor initiation and organ preservation may have beneficial implications for humans in extremely challenging environments, such as in medical intensive care units and in space.

AB - Hibernation enables many species of the mammalian kingdom to overcome periods of harsh environmental conditions. During this physically inactive state metabolic rate and body temperature are drastically downregulated, thereby reducing energy requirements (torpor) also over shorter time periods. Since blood cells reflect the organism´s current condition, it was suggested that transcriptomic alterations in blood cells mirror the torpor-associated physiological state. Transcriptomics on blood cells of torpid and non-torpid Djungarian hamsters and QIAGEN Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) revealed key target molecules (TMIPA), which were subjected to a comparative literature analysis on transcriptomic alterations during torpor/hibernation in other mammals. Gene expression similarities were identified in 148 TMIPA during torpor nadir among various organs and phylogenetically different mammalian species. Based on TMIPA, IPA network analyses corresponded with described inhibitions of basic cellular mechanisms and immune system-associated processes in torpid mammals. Moreover, protection against damage to the heart, kidney, and liver was deduced from this gene expression pattern in blood cells. This study shows that blood cell transcriptomics can reflect the general physiological state during torpor nadir. Furthermore, the understanding of molecular processes for torpor initiation and organ preservation may have beneficial implications for humans in extremely challenging environments, such as in medical intensive care units and in space.

U2 - 10.1007/s00424-023-02842-8

DO - 10.1007/s00424-023-02842-8

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 37542567

VL - 475

SP - 1149

EP - 1160

JO - PFLUG ARCH EUR J PHY

JF - PFLUG ARCH EUR J PHY

SN - 0031-6768

IS - 10

ER -