Tissue-Specific Expression of the Porcine DHRS3 Gene and Its Impact on the Proliferation and Differentiation of Myogenic Cells.

The DHRS3 gene, a member of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) family, is involved in critical metabolic processes in animals. This study investigated the expression patterns of DHRS3 across various tissues of developmental stages in pigs and preliminarily evaluated its effects on myoblast proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. RT-qPCR (real-time quantitative PCR) was employed to analyze DHRS3 expression in the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, longissimus dorsi, foreleg, and hind leg of pigs at 3 days, 6 months, and 12 months of age. Cell proliferation was analyzed using EdU (5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine) assays, RT-qPCR, and flow cytometry, while the expression changes of proliferation-, apoptosis-, and differentiation-related genes were assessed via RT-qPCR. The results indicated that DHRS3 was expressed in all eight tissues at all three developmental stages. At 3 days, DHRS3 expression was the highest in the kidneys; at 6 months, it peaked in the liver; and at 12 months, it was again the highest in the kidneys. Across all stages, the liver and kidneys exhibited the highest DHRS3 expression levels. Functional studies revealed that DHRS3 overexpression suppressed myoblast proliferation and differentiation while promoting apoptosis. In contrast, DHRS3 inhibition enhanced myoblast proliferation and differentiation and reduced apoptosis. These findings underscore the regulatory role of DHRS3 in myogenesis and provide insights into its metabolic and developmental functions in pigs.