title: QTL mapping for genetic determinants of lipoprotein cholesterol levels in combined crosses of inbred mouse strains.
abstract: To identify additional loci that influence lipoprotein cholesterol levels, we performed quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in offspring of PERA/EiJxI/LnJ and PERA/EiJxDBA/2J intercrosses and in a combined data set from both crosses after 8 weeks of consumption of a high fat-diet. Most QTLs identified were concordant with homologous chromosomal regions that were associated with lipoprotein levels in human studies. We detected significant new loci for HDL cholesterol levels on chromosome (Chr) 5 (Hdlq34) and for non-HDL cholesterol levels on Chrs 15 (Nhdlq9) and 16 (Nhdlq10). In addition, the analysis of combined data sets identified a QTL for HDL cholesterol on Chr 17 that was shared between both crosses; lower HDL cholesterol levels were conferred by strain PERA. This QTL colocalized with a shared QTL for cholesterol gallstone formation detected in the same crosses. Haplotype analysis narrowed this QTL, and sequencing of the candidate genes Abcg5 and Abcg8 confirmed shared alleles in strains I/LnJ and DBA/2J that differed from the alleles in strain PERA/EiJ. In conclusion, our analysis furthers the knowledge of genetic determinants of lipoprotein cholesterol levels in inbred mice and substantiates the hypothesis that polymorphisms of Abcg5/Abcg8 contribute to individual variation in both plasma HDL cholesterol levels and susceptibility to cholesterol gallstone formation.
authors: The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, USA. henning.wittenburg@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
authors: Henning
authors: H
authors: Wittenburg
authors: Malcolm A
authors: MA
authors: Lyons
authors: Renhua
authors: R
authors: Li
authors: Ulrike
authors: U
authors: Kurtz
authors: Xiaosong
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Joachim
authors: J
authors: Mössner
authors: Gary A
authors: GA
authors: Churchill
authors: Martin C
authors: MC
authors: Carey
authors: Beverly
authors: B
authors: Paigen