Association and expression study of MMP3, TGFβ1 and COL10A1 as candidate genes for leg weakness-related traits in pigs

Abstract

The present study was aimed to determine the association between metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) and collagen type X alpha I (COL10A1) gene polymorphisms with traits related to leg weakness in pigs. Three hundred Duroc × Pietrain cross breds (DuPi) and 299 pigs of a commercial population (CP) were used for the experiment. DuPi animals were examined for 10 different traits describing leg and feet structure, osteochondrosis (OC) scores and bone density status. Data of OC score at condylus medialis humeri, condylus medialis femoris and distal epiphysis ulna regions of CP were used for association analysis. Significant association (P < 0.05) was found for MMP3 SNP (g.158 C>T) with OC at head of femur and bone mineral density in the DuPi population. Association (P < 0.05) was found between SNP of TGFβ1 (g.180 G>A) with rear leg score and the principle component denoting both OC and feet and leg scores in the DuPi population. No association was found between COL10A1 (g.72 C>T) and leg weakness related traits. The associations of SNPs with OC traits could not be confirmed in the commercial population. Expression analysis of the three candidate genes was performed to compare between healthy and OC. TGFβ1 was found to be highly expressed (P < 0.05) in the OC compared to healthy cartilages, but no significant different expressions were observed for MMP3 and COL10A1 genes. The present finding suggested that TGFβ1 and MMP3 genes variants have an effect on some of the leg weakness related traits.

Non-invasive methods for the determination of body and carcass composition in livestock: dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound: invited review

“…Most often these will be traits, which could not be recorded routinely without the application of non-invasive techniques like, for example, traits related to leg health. New selectable leg health traits could be bone mineral content or bone mineral density derived by DXA and/or CT (Charuta et al , 2012 ; Laenoi et al , 2012 ; Rangkasenee et al , 2013 , Rothammer et al , 2014 ) or osteochondrosis scores as suggested by Aasmundstad et al ( 2013 ), with a promising heritability estimate of 0.31 (±0.09). Several groups are already trying to implement meat and partially fat quality (water proportion in fat) measurements in vivo .…”

Emerging Genetic Basis of Osteochondritis Dissecans

“…Evidence supports inherited genetic traits underlying osteochondrosis in equine. Osteochondrosis in swine is characterized by disturbed bone formation, cartilage retention, or necrosis of cartilage canals in calcified cartilage (33, 34). Heritability of osteochondrosis in swine varies by breed; however, the argument for the existence of genetic factors is strong.…”

“…Osteochondrosis in swine is considered to be a generalized skeletal disease characterized by disturbed bone formation, cartilage retention, or necrosis of cartilage canal in articular cartilage (33, 34). Osteochondrosis is the primary cause of leg weakness in swine, impacting the fitness and longevity of animals (17).…”

A variant in MYO10 is associated with hind limb conformation in Swiss Large White boars

“…Efforts have been undertaken to detect causative genetic variations affecting hind leg conformation. MMP3 , TGFB1, and COL10A1 were identified as candidate genes; however, the nature of the underlying genetic variation is still unknown …”