Characterization and Transcriptome Analysis of Exosomal and Nonexosomal RNAs in Bovine Adipocytes

Abstract

Exosomes are endosome-derived extracellular vesicles that allow intercellular communication. However, the biological significance of adipocyte exosomal RNAs remains unclear. To determine the role of RNAs from bovine adipocytes and exosomes in bovine adipogenesis, exosomal and nonexosomal RNAs were extracted from three bovine primary white adipocyte samples and then profiles were generated using DNBSEQ/BGISEQ-500 technology. The RNAome of adipocytes consisted of 12,082 mRNAs, 8589 lncRNAs, and 378 miRNAs for a higher complexity that that detected in exosomes, with 1083 mRNAs, 105 lncRNAs, and 48 miRNAs. Exosomal miRNA-mRNA and lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA networks were constructed and enrichment analysis was performed to predict functional roles and regulatory mechanisms. Our study provides the first characterization of RNAs from bovine adipocyte and exosomes. The findings reveal that some RNAs are specifically packaged in adipocyte-derived exosomes, potentially enabling crosstalk between adipocytes and/or other cells that is mediated by exosomes. Our results greatly expand our understanding of exosomal RNAs from bovine adipocytes, and provide a reference for future functional investigations of adipocyte exosomal RNAs under normal physiological conditions.