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Polymorphisms in the selectin gene cluster are associated with fertility and survival time in a population of Holstein Friesian cows

Chen, X; Zhang, S; Cheng, Z R; Cooke, J S; Werling, D; Wathes, D C; Pollott, G E

Authors

X Chen

S Zhang

Z R Cheng

J S Cooke

D Werling

D C Wathes

G E Pollott



Abstract

Selectins are adhesion molecules, which mediate attachment between leucocytes and endothelium. They aid extravasation of leucocytes from blood into inflamed tissue during the mammary gland’s response to infection. Selectins are also involved in attachment of the conceptus to the endometrium and subsequent placental development. Poor fertility and udder health are major causes for culling dairy cows. The three identified bovine selectin genes SELP, SELL and SELE are located in a gene cluster. SELP is the most polymorphic of these genes. Several SNP in SELP and SELE are associated with human vascular disease, while SELP SNP rs6127 has been associated with recurrent pregnancy loss in women. This study describes the results of a gene association study for SNP in SELP (n = 5), SELL (n = 2) and SELE (n = 1) with fertility, milk production and longevity traits in a population of 337 Holstein Friesian dairy cows. Blood samples for PCR-RFLP were collected at 6 months of age and animals were monitored until either culling or 2,340 days from birth. Three SNP in SELPEx4-6 formed a haplotype block containing a Glu/Ala substitution at rs42312260. This region was associated with poor fertility and reduced survival times. SELPEx8 (rs378218397) coded for a Val475Met variant locus in the linking region between consensus repeats 4 and 5, which may influence glycosylation. The synonymous SNP rs110045112 in SELEEx14 deviated from Hardy Weinberg equilibrium. For both this SNP and rs378218397 there were too few AA homozygotes present in the population and AG heterozygotes had significantly worse fertility than GG homozygotes. Small changes in milk production associated with some SNP could not account for the reduced fertility and only SELPEx6 showed any association with somatic cell count. These results suggest that polymorphisms in SELP and SELE are associated with the likelihood of successful pregnancy, potentially through compromised implantation and placental development.

Citation

Chen, X., Zhang, S., Cheng, Z. R., Cooke, J. S., Werling, D., Wathes, D. C., & Pollott, G. E. (2017). Polymorphisms in the selectin gene cluster are associated with fertility and survival time in a population of Holstein Friesian cows. PLoS ONE, 12(4), https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0175555

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 28, 2017
Publication Date Apr 18, 2017
Deposit Date Apr 20, 2017
Publicly Available Date Apr 20, 2017
Journal PLoS One
Electronic ISSN 1932-6203
Publisher Public Library of Science
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 12
Issue 4
DOI https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0175555
Public URL https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1392254

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