Transcription analysis of chicken embryo fibroblast cells infected with the recombinant avian leukosis virus isolate GX14FF03

Infection with recombinant avian leukosis virus (ALV) has previously been linked to malignancies and immunosuppression. However, the processes behind the unique pathophysiology of recombinant ALV are poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed gene expression patterns in chicken fibroblast cells (CEFs) infected with the recombinant ALV isolate GX14FF03 and used the RNA-seq technique to perform a complete analysis of the transcribed mRNAs. A total of 907 significant differentially expressed genes (SDEGs) were identified. Among these SDEGs, the most significantly upregulated gene was interleukin 8-like 1 (IL8L1), while the most significantly downregulated gene was fibroblast growth factor 16 (FGF16). The 907 SDGEs were highly enriched (p < 0.05) for 252 Gene Ontology (GO) terms, including 197 BP, 3 CC, and 52 MF. According to KEGG data analysis, SDEGs are implicated in eight significant pathways (p < 0.05). Furthermore, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis revealed that IL8L1 interacts with 17 genes. These findings shed light on the molecular mechanisms involved in recombinant ALV infection by showing the mRNA expression profile in CEFs infected with GX14FF03 virus.