DNA methylation of CpG sites in the chicken KLF7 promoter and Exon 2 in association with mRNA expression in abdominal adipose tissue and blood metabolic indicators

Background Our previous study found that chicken KLF7 was an important regulator in formation of adipose tissue. In the present study, we analyzed the association for DNA methylation in chicken KLF7 with its transcripts of abdominal adipose tissue and blood metabolic indicators. Results The KLF7 transcripts of the adipose tissue of Chinese yellow broilers were associated with age (F = 6.67, P = 0.0035). In addition, the KLF7 transcripts were negatively correlated with blood glucose levels (r = − 0.61841, P = 0.0140). The DNA methylation levels of 26 CpG loci in the chicken KLF7 promoter and Exon 2 were studied by Sequenom MassArray. A total of 22 valid datasets were obtained. None of them was significantly different in relation to age (P > 0.05). However, the DNA methylation levels in the promoter were lower than those in Exon 2 (T = 40.74, P KLF7 transcripts and blood high-density lipoprotein levels, respectively, and many CpG loci were correlated with each other (P KLF7 transcripts (P KLF7 transcripts was built, and the contribution of z1 to the variation on KLF7 transcripts was 34.29%. Conclusions In conclusion, the KLF7 transcripts of chicken abdominal adipose tissue might be inhibited by DNA methylation in the promoter, and it might be related to the DNA methylation level of PCpG6.