title: Mapping quantitative trait loci for innate immune response in the pig.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) for the serum levels of cytokines and Toll-like receptors as traits related to innate immunity in pig. For this purpose, serum concentration of interleukin 2 (IL2), interleukin 10 (IL10), interferon-gamma (IFNG), Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) were measured in blood samples obtained from F(2) piglets (n = 334) of a Duroc × Piétrain resource population (DUPI) after Mycoplasma hypopneumoniae (Mh), tetanus toxoid (TT) and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) vaccination at 6, 9 and 15 weeks of age. Animals were genotyped at 82 genetic markers covering all autosomes. QTL analysis was performed under the line cross F(2) model using QTL Express and 33 single QTL were detected on almost all porcine autosomes. Among the single QTL, eight, twelve and thirteen QTL were identified for innate immune traits in response to Mh, TT and PRRSV vaccine, respectively. Besides single QTL, six QTL were identified by a two-QTL model, of which two for TLR9_TT were in coupling phase and one for IL10_PRRSV was in repulsion phase. All QTL were significant at 5% chromosome-wide level including one and seven at 5% genome- and 1% chromosome-wide level significance. All innate immune traits are influenced by multiple chromosomal regions implying multiple gene action. Some of the identified QTL coincided with previously reported QTL for immune response and disease resistance, and the newly identified QTL are potentially involved in the immune function. The immune traits were also influenced by environmental factors like year of birth, age, parity and litter size. The results of this work shed new light on the genetic background of innate immune response and these findings will be helpful to identify candidate genes in these QTL regions related to immune competence and disease resistance in pigs.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn, Endenicher Allee, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Uddin
authors.forename: M U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Cinar
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grosse-Brinkhaus
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tesfaye
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tholen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Juengst
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Looft
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wimmers
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Phatsara
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schellander
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002874:Chromosome Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005819:Genetic Markers; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010641:Phenotype; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics*; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000235:genetics*; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D014611:Vaccination; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D005819:Genetic Markers; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D014612:Vaccines