title: Quantitative Western ligand blotting reveals common patterns and differential features of IGFBP-fingerprints in domestic ruminant breeds and species.
abstract: The insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) are determinants of local IGF-effects and thus have an impact on growth and metabolism in vertebrate species. In farm animals, IGFBPs are associated with traits such as growth rate, body composition, milk production, or fertility. It may be assumed, that selective breeding and characteristic phenotypes of breeds are related to differential expression of IGFBPs. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of selective breeding on blood IGFBP concentrations of farm animals. Breeds of the sheep, goat, and cattle species were investigated. IGFBP-3, -2, and -4 were analyzed with quantitative Western ligand blotting (qWLB), enabling comprehensive monitoring of intact IGFBPs with IGF-binding capacity. We show that in sera of all species and breeds investigated, IGFBP-3, -2, and -4 were simultaneously detectable by qWLB analysis. IGFBP-3 and the total amount of IGFBPs were significantly increased (P<0.05) in Cameroon sheep, if compared to 3 of 4 other sheep breeds, as well as in Dwarf goats versus Toggenburg and Boer goats (P<0.01). IGFBP-2 was elevated in Cameroon sheep and Boer goats, if compared to other breeds of these species (P<0.01), respectively. Holstein Friesian dairy cows had higher levels of IGFBP-4 (P<0.05), if compared to conventional crossbreeds of beef cattle. In Dwarf goats the ratio of IGFBP-3/IGFBP-2 was about 3-fold higher than in other goat breeds (P<0.001). The total IGFBP amount of Toggenburg goats was reduced (P<0.05), compared to the other goat breeds. In conclusion, our data indicate that common and specific features of IGFBP fingerprints are found in different ruminant species and breeds. Our findings may introduce quantitative Western ligand blotting as an attractive tool for biomarker development and molecular phenotyping in farm animal breeds.
authors.affiliation: Ligandis GbR, Gülzow, Germany; Institute of Genome Biology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wirthgen
authors.affiliation: Ligandis GbR, Gülzow, Germany.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Höflich
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genome Biology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spitschak
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Swine and Small Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Helmer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genome Biology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany; Institute for Farm Animal Research and Technology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Bodo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Langbein
authors.affiliation: Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Pharma Research & Early Development Neuroscience (pRED), Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Metzger
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genome Biology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany. Electronic address: hoeflich@fbn-dummerstorf.de.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoeflich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002417:Cattle; D018971:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D018974:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000378:metabolism; D012418:Ruminants / Q000378:metabolism*; D012756:Sheep; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D018971:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D018974:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 4; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II
keywords: Biomarker; Breeding; Cattle; Goat; IGFBPs; Sheep