The poultry industry faces significant challenges due to the escalating incidence of fatty liver syndrome (FLS), which severely impairs production. This study reveals a critical competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network governing fatty acid metabolism during FLS. Transcription profiling identified 68 differentially expressed lncRNAs and 52 miRNAs, predominantly associated with energy-metabolism enzyme pathways. And a ceRNA regulatory axis of LOC670/miR-143-3p/SelenoF was established, while triglyceride production is an indicator. The dual-luciferase assays showed that miR-143-3p reduced reporter activity by 30% and 45% when targeting LOC670 and selenoprotein F (SelenoF), respectively, confirming direct interactions. Additionally, functional studies revealed that the ceRNA axis dysregulated fatty-acid metabolism by increasing the 4-fold expression of ACCα and FASN, while SelenoF exhibits strong negative regulation on the AKT pathway. Together, these findings provide new molecular insight into FLS pathogenesis and offer potential targets for improving poultry health, production efficiency, and food safety.
Wang et al. (Sun,) studied this question.