Analysis of the global expression profile of piRNAs in the ventral prostate of rats submitted to maternal protein restriction: a DOHaD approach

• Grant number: 22/04339-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2022
• End date: February 29, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology
• Principal Investigator: Luis Antonio Justulin Junior
• Grantee: Hecttor Sebastian Baptista
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The concept of the Developmental Origin of Health and Disease (DOHaD) seeks to establish correlations between exposure to adverse conditions in early life and the development of chronic non-communicable diseases in adulthood, including some types of cancer such as prostate cancer (PCa) . Although the mechanisms involved in the developmental origin of PCa are not fully known, alterations in epigenetic markers have been identified as potential agents involved in this process. RNAs that interact with PIWI proteins (piRNAs) are small RNAs that are poorly characterized and participate in epigenetic reprogramming, modulating genomic organization and controlling molecular pathways associated with the development and pathophysiology of various organs, including the prostate. Thus, the objective of this work will be to characterize the global profile of piRNAs expression in the ventral prostate (VP) of the offspring of Sprague Dawley rats submitted to maternal protein restriction at postnatal day (PND) 21 and at aging (PDN540). For this, sequencing data of small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) (GSE180674) will be used from the VP of the offspring of male rats from animals submitted to gestational and lactational protein restriction (RPGL) (6% of proteins x 17% of the control group ) that were euthanized in DPN 21 and 540. Based on the RNA-Seq data, the piRNAs expressed in the VP of rats will be identified and characterized, the organization of these molecules in the rat genome, identification of differentially expressed piRNAs (DE) in animals submitted to to RPM at each age. PiRNAs and molecules that act on their biogenesis will be selected for validation by RT-qPCR. This work will generate new knowledge about epigenetic mechanisms in prostatic disorders as a consequence of maternal protein malnutrition.