title: A genomic variant in IRF9 is associated with serum cytokine levels in pig.
abstract: The interferon regulatory factor 9 (IRF9) gene is a member of the IRF family and has been shown to play functionally diverse roles in the regulation of the immune system. Previous study revealed the IRF9 gene resides within the reported quantitative trait locus (QTLs) for cytokine levels. The aims of this study were to identify genomic variants in IRF9 and to test the association between the variants and cytokine levels in pig. A synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism (c.459A>G) was identified in exon 4 of the IRF9 gene. Association analysis in 300 piglets (Landrace, n=68; large white, n=158; and Songliao black, n=74) showed that this variant was significantly associated with the level of interferon (IFN)-γ and the ratio of IFN-γ to IL-10 in serum (P<0.05). Relative quantification of messenger RNA (mRNA) revealed that spleen had the highest expression level and individuals with genotype AA had higher expression than those with genotype AG. Transfection-based mRNA stability assay analysis further showed that the mutant allele G could reduce the RNA stability of IRF9. These findings suggest that the SNP (c.459A>G) could be a causative mutation for the association between IRF9 and the serum cytokine levels in swine.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture; College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wenwen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture; College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Haifei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture; College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiangdong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture; College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jianfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture; College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture; College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China. qzhang@cau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D006691:Classical Swine Fever; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D050834:Interferon-Stimulated Gene Factor 3, gamma Subunit / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D020871:RNA Stability; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D013552:Swine / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D050834:Interferon-Stimulated Gene Factor 3, gamma Subunit; D014765:Viral Vaccines; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: Association analysis; Cytokine levels; IRF9; Pig; Single-nucleotide polymorphism