title: The genetic association study between polymorphisms in uncoupling protein 2 and uncoupling protein 3 and metabolic data in dogs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The uncoupling proteins (UCPs) in the mitochondrial inner membrane are members of the mitochondrial anion carrier protein family that play an important role in energy homeostasis. Genetic association studies have shown that human UCP2 and UCP3 variants (SNPs and indels) are associated with obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to examine the genetic association between polymorphisms in UCP2 and UCP3 and metabolic data in dogs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 10 SNPs (9 intronic and 1 exonic) and 4 indels (intronic) in UCP2, and 13 SNPs (11 intronic and 2 exonic) and one indel (exonic) in UCP3, by DNA sequence analysis of 11 different dog breeds (n=119). An association study between these UCP2 and UCP3 variants and the biochemical parameters of glucose, total cholesterol, lactate dehydrogenase and triglyceride in Labrador Retrievers (n=50) showed that none of the UCP2 polymorphisms were significantly associated with the levels of these parameters. However, four UCP3 SNPs (intron 1) were significantly associated with total cholesterol levels. In addition, the allele frequencies of two of the four SNPs associated with higher total cholesterol levels in a breed that is susceptible to hypercholesterolemia (Shetland Sheepdogs, n=30), compared with the control breed (Shiba, n=30).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results obtained from a limited number of individuals suggest that the UCP3 gene in dogs may be associated with total cholesterol levels. The examination of larger sample sizes and further analysis will lead to increased precision of these results.
authors.forename: Chihiro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Udagawa
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tada
authors.forename: Junzo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: Katsumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishioka
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ochiai
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonkobara
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsuchida
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Science, School of Veterinary Nursing and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonan-cho, Musashino, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan. t.omi@nvlu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Toshinori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Omi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001947:Breeding; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004285:Dogs; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D054643:INDEL Mutation; D007438:Introns; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2; D000071247:Uncoupling Protein 3
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007473:Ion Channels; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D014280:Triglycerides; C000604389:UCP2 protein, human; C000604392:UCP3 protein, human; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2; D000071247:Uncoupling Protein 3; D002784:Cholesterol; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase