Integrative multi-tissue transcriptomics reveals feeding and vitamin E effects in sheep.

BACKGROUND

Sheep feeding systems strongly influence meat quality, animal health, and production efficiency. Grazing improves fatty acid composition and sustainability but limits productivity, whereas concentrate feeding enhances efficiency but may induce oxidative stress. Vitamin E (VE), a key antioxidant, may mitigate these effects; however, systematic multi-tissue molecular evidence remains limited.

METHODS

We performed an integrative transcriptomic analysis across liver, muscle, and subcutaneous fat. In Experiment 1, grazing and confinement systems were compared to identify cross-tissue co-regulated genes associated with feeding practices (FW-CTRGs). In Experiment 2, muscle tissue was analyzed to evaluate the effects of VE supplementation on oxidative stress-related genes (VE-OSRGs). Gene regulation was characterized through differential expression and comprehensive functional analyses.

RESULTS

In Experiment 1, nine FW-CTRGs were identified across tissues, suggesting coordinated regulation of immune and stress-related pathways under different feeding systems. In Experiment 2, twelve VE-OSRGs were identified in muscle, indicating that VE supplementation may enhance antioxidant capacity by regulating genes involved in tissue remodeling and stress response, including pathways related to TGF-β signaling and extracellular matrix interactions. Key regulators included ANXA5, ANXA2, CD44, AGTR1, THBS1, HMOX1, and BCL6.

CONCLUSION

This study provides a multi-tissue transcriptomic perspective on feeding strategies in sheep and shows that VE may improve oxidative status through coordinated gene regulation. These findings offer insights for optimizing feeding strategies to enhance meat quality and animal health.