LeukoBEA: transcriptional and epigenetic response of blood leukocytes in the pig species: towards new indicators of health and well-being

Context and challenges

Nowadays, scientists know how to evaluate states of acute stress in animals by studying their behavioural and physiological responses. However, there is still a lack of tools to understand long-lasting situations associated with stable physiological and mental states. In humans, positive and negative mental states can be distinguished by studying the level of gene expression in immune blood cells.

Objectives

The objective of the present project is to determine whether, in pigs, it is possible to identify blood gene expression profiles comparable to those observed in humans, and whether these changes result from epigenetic control. To generate stable welfare or ill-being states over time, contrasting rearing environments whose impact on welfare is already known will be used, and the impact on the transcriptome (by RNA sequencing) and the blood epigenome of pigs (by Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing) studied with unbiased approaches. Two enrichment situations will be used: one based on straw bedding, with a decreased animal density and an increased surface area, the other based on regular access of sows to an "entertainment" room during their gestation period. The individual stability of these signatures during successive physiological stages will be tested on samples taken from the same sows during gestation and lactation. This approach will be associated with behavioural measurements carried out in collaboration with ethologists, which will allow to control the expected impact of the environments used on the animals' well-being. An application of this project could be the development of tests that can be used on a larger scale and at a lower cost to study the blood expression of a limited number of genes, revealing the impact of the rearing conditions on the well-being and health of the animals.

Species concerned

Partnerships

• Joint research unit 1348 PEGASE, INRAE, PHASE division: endocrinology, neuroimmunology, ethology
• Joint research unit 1198 BREED, INRAE, PHASE division: epigenetics
• Joint research unit 1300 BIOEPAR INRAE, SA division: porcine health, anti-infectious immunology
• External partner: Regional Chamber of Agriculture, Brittany; Physiology of  Adaptation group of the University of Wageningen (Netherlands)