Relative quantification of mRNA transcription of αv, β3, and β6 subunits relevant to FMDV receptors in different tissues of Hostein heifer by real-time quantitative RT-PCR.

Objective To establish a method for the detection of mRNA transcription of αv, β3, β6 subunits by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and analyze the transcription profiles of αvβ3 and αvβ6 as FMDV receptors in different tissues of Hostein heifer. Method According to the sequences of αv, β3, and β6 cDNAs , the real-time PCR primers were designed and synthesized. The △△Ct relative quantification method was used to detect the transcription levels of αv, β3, and β6 mRNAs in 24 different tissues of Hostein heifer.ResultResults of the study showed that the αv and β3 mRNA were transcripted at high or low level in the 24 different tissues. In constrast, the β6 mRNA is only restricted in the partial tissues, and at high level in the thyroid, hard palate, nasal epithelium, laryngeal, lung, esophageal, kidney and at moderate level in the lip skin, soft palate, tracheal, heart , rumen, rectum, coronary band of front leg, and not detected in the salivary gland, neck lymph node, liver, speen and musle. The distribution pattern is remarkably similar to the tissue tropism of FMDV. The results suggested that the αvβ6 may serve as the major receptor that determines the tissue tropism of FMDV. The tissue distribution pattern of αvβ3 seems to be unrelated to the tissue tropism of FMDV, but the role for αvβ3 as a receptor during FMDV infection can not be ruled out completely. Conclusion The △△Ct relative quantitative RT-PCR method was established successfully for the detection of mRNA transcription of αv, β3 and β6 subunits