title: Quantitative trait loci for baseline white blood cell count, platelet count, and mean platelet volume.
abstract: A substantial genetic contribution to baseline peripheral blood counts has been established. We performed quantitative trait locus/loci (QTL) analyses to identify chromosome (Chr) regions harboring genes influencing the baseline white blood cell (WBC) count, platelet (Plt) count, and mean platelet volume (MPV) in F(2) intercrosses between NZW/LacJ, SM/J, and C57BLKS/J inbred mice. We identified six significant WBC QTL: Wbcq1 (peak LOD score at 38 cM, Chr 1), Wbcq2 (42 cM, Chr 3), Wbcq3 (0 cM, Chr 15), Wbcq4 (58 cM, Chr 1), Wbcq5 (82 cM, Chr 1), and Wbcq6 (8 cM, Chr 14). Three significant Plt QTL were identified: Pltq1 (24 cM, Chr 2), Pltq2 (36 cM, Chr 7), and Pltq3 (10 cM, Chr 12). Two significant MPV QTL were identified, Mpvq1 (62 cM, Chr 15) and Mpvq2 (44 cM, Chr 8). In total, the WBC QTL accounted for up to 31% of the total variance in baseline WBC count, while the Plt and MPV QTL accounted for up to 30% and 49% of the total variance, respectively. These analyses underscore the genetic complexity underlying these traits in normal populations and provide the basis for future studies to identify novel genes involved in the regulation of mammalian hematopoiesis.
authors.affiliation: The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609, USA. luanne@jax.org
authors.forename: Luanne L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Weidong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Amy J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brugnara
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Churchill
authors.forename: Orah S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Platt
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000166:cytology*; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000235:genetics; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008126:Lod Score; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains / Q000235:genetics; D010976:Platelet Count; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics*; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013045:Species Specificity