A triad of highly divergent polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIGR) haplotypes with major effect on IgA concentration in bovine milk

PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e57219. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0057219. Epub 2013 Mar 11.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine a genetic basis for IgA concentration in milk of Bos taurus. We used a Holstein-Friesian x Jersey F2 crossbred pedigree to undertake a genome-wide search for QTL influencing IgA concentration and yield in colostrum and milk. We identified a single genome-wide significant QTL on chromosome 16, maximising at 4.8 Mbp. The polymeric immunoglobulin receptor gene (PIGR) was within the confidence interval of the QTL. In addition, mRNA expression analysis revealed a liver PIGR expression QTL mapping to the same locus as the IgA quantitative trait locus. Sequencing and subsequent genotyping of the PIGR gene revealed three divergent haplotypes that explained the variance of both the IgA QTL and the PIGR expression QTL. Genetic selection based on these markers will facilitate the production of bovine herds producing milk with higher concentrations of IgA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Chromosomes, Mammalian
  • Colostrum / chemistry
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Genetic Association Studies*
  • Genotype
  • Haplotypes*
  • Immunoglobulin A / analysis
  • Immunoglobulin A / metabolism*
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Milk / chemistry*
  • Phenotype
  • Quantitative Trait Loci
  • Receptors, Polymeric Immunoglobulin / genetics*
  • Receptors, Polymeric Immunoglobulin / metabolism
  • Secretory Component / genetics
  • Secretory Component / metabolism

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Receptors, Polymeric Immunoglobulin
  • Secretory Component

Grants and funding

Funding from this work was received from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment via a FRST Grant. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.