Genetic factors involved in central nervous system/immune interactions.
Analysis of several inbred rat strains has led us to hypothesize that HPA axis abnormalities may contribute, in part, to susceptibility to both autoimmune disease and addiction. In this article we review the evidence for this hypothesis and describe our ongoing efforts to genetically characterize these traits. We have mapped the locations of 23 loci that regulate autoimmune disease in rats, and are currently constructing QTL congenic lines in which a genomic region from the resistant strain is transferred to the susceptible strain or vice versa. These QTL congenic lines will be valuable to test whether genes encoding autoimmune regulation also control neuroendocrine traits. Further genetic dissection and identification of the underlying genes will be necessary to infer a mechanistic link between autoimmune and neuroendocrine traits.
Wilder
R L
RL
Inflammatory Joint Diseases Section, Arthritis and Rheumatism Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Griffiths
M M
MM
Cannon
G W
GW
Caspi
R
R
Gulko
P S
PS
Remmers
E F
EF
D000818:Animals; D020296:Animals, Congenic; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000276:immunology*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009294:Narcotics / Q000633:toxicity; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000235:genetics*; D018847:Opioid Peptides / Q000502:physiology; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000276:immunology*; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000235:genetics
D009294:Narcotics; D018847:Opioid Peptides