Genetic association of variations in the osteopontin gene (SPP1) with lactation persistency in dairy cattle
Citation
N. Bissonnette, Genetic association of variations in the osteopontin gene (SPP1) with lactation persistency in dairy cattle. 2017 Journal of Dairy Science. in press
Plain language summary
Genetic association of variations in the osteopontin gene (SPP1) with lactation persistency in dairy cattle.
Lactation persistency (LP), defined as the rate of decline in milk yield after peak milk production, involves tissue remodeling of the mammary gland but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Osteopontin, a protein that plays an important role in immune regulation, is also involved for maintaining tissue integrity during mammary gland adaptive transformation. Osteopontin, a matricellular immunomodulatory cytokine highly expressed mammary gland cells, is known to regulate immune cell migration, communication, and response to injury/inflammation. Osteopontin is one of the top cited molécules and was identified as the immunomodulating protein of the previous decade. Genetic variations identified in the bovine osteopontin gene were found associated with LP. Because of the economic value of LP for dairy farmers, introducing osteopontin genetic variations might be valuable in breeding programs.
Abstract
Improving lactation persistency (LP) in dairy cattle has a beneficial effect on animal health and fertility and herd productivity. A complex trait, LP not only reflects the cow’s ability to maintain milk secretion activity after the lactation peak but is also a function of the post-calving development of the mammary gland and, later on, of tissue remodeling as lactation declines. This decline is a consequence of an imbalance between cell proliferation and cell removal. In a previous study, single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified in the osteopontin (OPN) gene, SPP1. Osteopontin is a multifaceted protein that plays an important role in immune regulation and tissue remodeling. Because OPN is involved in involution it might also have an effect on LP. The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether LP could be influenced by genetic variations in the SPP1 gene. This association with LP was analyzed in the population of 578 bulls characterized in a previous study. The population mean of estimated breeding value (EBV) for LP was 100.95 ± 5.06 units. Allele and genotype association analyses were performed by comparing the frequencies of the different genotypes and alleles with EBV for LP for the respective lactation using logistic regression. The EBV for LP at the first lactation (LP1), second lactation (LP2), and third lactation (LP3) and for overall lactation (OLP) are reported for the genotypes SPP1c.-1301G>A, SPP1c.-1251C>T, SPP1c.-430G>A, and SPP1c.*40A>C. The first single nucleotide polymorphism, SPP1c.-1301G>A, affected LP1, LP2, LP3, and OLP (P < 0.001). Analysis of the estimated average allele substitution effects also confirmed that G is a favorable allele for LP, given the gain observed over LP1 (P = 0.007), LP2 (P = 0.013), LP3 (P = 0.050), and OLP (P = 0.009). Differences in EBV for LP were observed between animals with different haplotypes at LP1 (P = 0.001), LP2 (P = 0.001), LP3 (P = 0.002), and OLP (P < 0.001). Contrast analysis for OLP revealed that mean EBV is greater (P < 0.001) for block H1 (101.34 ± 0.30) than for animals that do not have H1 (98.20 ± 0.77). The gain with block H1 (GCGA) suggests the presence of the favorable allele G (first position in the block: SPP1c.-1301G). The pleiotropic roles of OPN position it at the crossroads of immune regulation, tissue remodeling, and involution. From a genetic perspective, data from the present study suggest OPN as a candidate gene associated with LP for dairy cows.