title: A Point Mutation in Suppressor of Cytokine Signalling 2 (Socs2) Increases the Susceptibility to Inflammation of the Mammary Gland while Associated with Higher Body Weight and Size and Higher Milk Production in a Sheep Model.
abstract: Mastitis is an infectious disease mainly caused by bacteria invading the mammary gland. Genetic control of susceptibility to mastitis has been widely evidenced in dairy ruminants, but the genetic basis and underlying mechanisms are still largely unknown. We describe the discovery, fine mapping and functional characterization of a genetic variant associated with elevated milk leukocytes count, or SCC, as a proxy for mastitis. After implementing genome-wide association studies, we identified a major QTL associated with SCC on ovine chromosome 3. Fine mapping of the region, using full sequencing with 12X coverage in three animals, provided one strong candidate SNP that mapped to the coding sequence of a highly conserved gene, suppressor of cytokine signalling 2 (Socs2). The frequency of the SNP associated with increased SCC was 21.7% and the Socs2 genotype explained 12% of the variance of the trait. The point mutation induces the p.R96C substitution in the SH2 functional domain of SOCS2 i.e. the binding site of the protein to various ligands, as well-established for the growth hormone receptor GHR. Using surface plasmon resonance we showed that the p.R96C point mutation completely abrogates SOCS2 binding affinity for the phosphopeptide of GHR. Additionally, the size, weight and milk production in p.R96C homozygote sheep, were significantly increased by 24%, 18%, and 4.4%, respectively, when compared to wild type sheep, supporting the view that the point mutation causes a loss of SOCS2 functional activity. Altogether these results provide strong evidence for a causal mutation controlling SCC in sheep and highlight the major role of SOCS2 as a tradeoff between the host's inflammatory response to mammary infections, and body growth and milk production, which are all mediated by the JAK/STAT signaling pathway.
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR 1388 Génétique, Physiologie et Systèmes d'Elevage, Castanet-Tolosan, France.|Université de Toulouse INPT ENSAT, UMR 1388 Génétique, Physiologie et Systèmes d'Elevage, Castanet-Tolosan, France.|Université de Toulouse INPT ENVT, UMR 1388 Génétique, Physiologie et Systèmes d'Elevage, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rupp
authors.affiliation: INRA, Sigenae, Castanet-Tolosan, France.|INRA, UR 0875, Mathématiques et Intelligence Artificielle Toulouse, Castanet-Tolosan, France.
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Senin
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR 1388 Génétique, Physiologie et Systèmes d'Elevage, Castanet-Tolosan, France.|Université de Toulouse INPT ENSAT, UMR 1388 Génétique, Physiologie et Systèmes d'Elevage, Castanet-Tolosan, France.|Université de Toulouse INPT ENVT, UMR 1388 Génétique, Physiologie et Systèmes d'Elevage, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sarry
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR 1388 Génétique, Physiologie et Systèmes d'Elevage, Castanet-Tolosan, France.|Université de Toulouse INPT ENSAT, UMR 1388 Génétique, Physiologie et Systèmes d'Elevage, Castanet-Tolosan, France.|Université de Toulouse INPT ENVT, UMR 1388 Génétique, Physiologie et Systèmes d'Elevage, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Allain
authors.affiliation: Université de Toulouse, Institut National Polytechnique (INP), École Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse (ENVT), Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 1225, Interactions Hôtes-Agents Pathogènes (IHAP), Toulouse, France.|INRA, UMR1225, Interactions Hôtes-Agents Pathogènes (IHAP), Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tasca
authors.affiliation: INSERM UMR1037, Centre Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.|Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Laeticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ligat
authors.affiliation: INRA, UE0321 Domaine de La Fage, Saint Jean et Saint Paul, France.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Portes
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR 1388 Génétique, Physiologie et Systèmes d'Elevage, Castanet-Tolosan, France.|Université de Toulouse INPT ENSAT, UMR 1388 Génétique, Physiologie et Systèmes d'Elevage, Castanet-Tolosan, France.|Université de Toulouse INPT ENVT, UMR 1388 Génétique, Physiologie et Systèmes d'Elevage, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Florent
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Woloszyn
authors.affiliation: INRA, GeT-PlaGe, Genotoul, Castanet-Tolosan, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bouchez
authors.affiliation: Université de Toulouse, Institut National Polytechnique (INP), École Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse (ENVT), Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 1225, Interactions Hôtes-Agents Pathogènes (IHAP), Toulouse, France.|INRA, UMR1225, Interactions Hôtes-Agents Pathogènes (IHAP), Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tabouret
authors.affiliation: Université de Toulouse, Institut National Polytechnique (INP), École Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse (ENVT), Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 1225, Interactions Hôtes-Agents Pathogènes (IHAP), Toulouse, France.|INRA, UMR1225, Interactions Hôtes-Agents Pathogènes (IHAP), Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lebastard
authors.affiliation: Université de Toulouse, Institut National Polytechnique (INP), École Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse (ENVT), Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 1225, Interactions Hôtes-Agents Pathogènes (IHAP), Toulouse, France.|INRA, UMR1225, Interactions Hôtes-Agents Pathogènes (IHAP), Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caubet
authors.affiliation: Université de Toulouse, Institut National Polytechnique (INP), École Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse (ENVT), Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 1225, Interactions Hôtes-Agents Pathogènes (IHAP), Toulouse, France.|INRA, UMR1225, Interactions Hôtes-Agents Pathogènes (IHAP), Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Foucras
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR 1388 Génétique, Physiologie et Systèmes d'Elevage, Castanet-Tolosan, France.|Université de Toulouse INPT ENSAT, UMR 1388 Génétique, Physiologie et Systèmes d'Elevage, Castanet-Tolosan, France.|Université de Toulouse INPT ENVT, UMR 1388 Génétique, Physiologie et Systèmes d'Elevage, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Gwenola
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tosser-Klopp
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001835:Body Weight / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D008413:Mastitis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000662:veterinary; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017354:Point Mutation; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011485:Protein Binding; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci; D012756:Sheep; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins