Screening of Transcriptional Differential Genes in Antler After Top Pruning and Expression Characteristics of BVES Gene.

The unique mammalian appendage antler is a good model for studying tissue regeneration and its related mechanism. This study explored the mechanism of the rapid growth of regenerated antlers after top pruning damage using transcriptome sequencing technology. A damage repair model was constructed by top pruning treatment on the left antlers of three 10-month-old Tarim red deer, and RNA-seq analysis was performed on the Illumina platform to compare the transcriptome sequencing results of the left regenerated antlers with the right healthy antlers. Among a total of 56 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were screened, 37 were up-regulated and 19 were down-regulated; the most significant changes were seen for the BVES gene (up-regulated gene); thus, this gene was further explored. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry further indicated a higher expression of BVES in the mesenchymal tissues of regenerated antlers than in the antler skin, cartilage, and bone tissues after top pruning treatment (P < 0.05); the brown immunohistochemical reaction products were concentrated in the mesenchymal cell membranes and intercellular matrix of healthy and regenerated antlers. Our results suggested that the repair process of antler damage after top pruning treatment mainly promotes the proliferation and differentiation of antler chondrocytes, osteoblasts, and T lymphocytes through biological signals such as WNT, IHH, and IL2RA to ensure the development of antler tissue again after top pruning. To sum up, our data implied that BVES gene regulated mesenchymal stem cells’ proliferation and differentiation activities in response to ischemic stimuli to promote the healing and rapid growth of wounded antlers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]