Comparative organization and function of the major histocompatibility complex of domesticated cattle

Abstract

This review focuses on recent advances in research on the bovine major histocompatibility complex (BoLA), with specific reference to the genetic organization, polymorphism and function of the class II genes. The BoLA region is unlike the MHC of humans and mice in that a large inversion has moved several class II genes, including the TAP/LMP cluster, close to the centromere of bovine chromosome 23. Therefore, close linkage of MHC genes and other genes associated with the MHC in humans and mice does not appear to be required for normal immunological function. In cattle, polymorphism in the class IIa genes influences both the magnitude and the epitope specificity of antigen-specific T-cell responses to foot-and-mouth disease virus peptides. Disease association studies have demonstrated that BoLA alleles affect the subclinical progression of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection. This association is strongly correlated with the presence of specific amino acid motifs within the DRB3 antigen-binding domain. In addition to the practical significance of these findings, the association between BoLA and BLV provides a unique model to study host resistance to retrovirus infection in a non-inbred species. These studies contribute to our understanding of the evolution of the MHC in mammals, to the development of broadly effective vaccines, and to breeding strategies aimed at improving resistance to infectious diseases.

A Contig Map of theMhcClass I Genomic Region in the Zebrafish Reveals Ancient Synteny

“…Examples of rearrangements documented in the few species that have been studied include inverted translocation involving part of the class II region together with a large piece of the chromosome in cattle (reviewed in Ref. 55), apparent removal of the class III region from the Mhc of the rabbit (56), translocation of two class I loci to the class II region in the mouse (reviewed in Ref. 1), and the contraction of much of the Mhc region to a segment of Ͻ100 kb and a pericentric duplication of the Mhc in the domestic fowl (11).…”

The Influence of Ovine MHC Class IIDRB1Alleles on Immune Response in Bovine Leukemia Virus Infection

“…However, the association between immune response and these ovine MHC-DR molecules remains unknown. In BLV infection, several previous studies (23,26,48) revealed the presence of the amino acids Glu-Arg (ER) at positions 70-71 of the bovine leukocyte antigen (BoLA)-DRβ chain associated with resistance to PL in cattle (48). Furthermore, it appeared that BoLA-DRB3 alleles encoding Glu, Arg and Val at positions 74, 77 and 78 of the BoLA-DRβ chain might be related to resistance to tumor development (1).…”

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha genetic polymorphism may contribute to progression of bovine leukemia virus-infection

“…Although the role played by the BLV Tax is unknown, it has, nevertheless, been shown to enhance nuclear protooncogene such as c-fos [19]. Both genetic and immunological factors contribute to susceptibility to BLV-induced disease progressions [3,26]. In genetic analysis of BLV-infection, previous studies revealed the polymorphism in bovine leukocyte antigen (BoLA)-DRβ chain associated with resistance to expansion of BLV [27] and PL [28].…”