Confirmation of QTL on porcine chromosomes 1 and 8 influencing leukocyte numbers, haematological parameters and leukocyte function.

ABSTRACT

A genome wide search in European Wild Boar x Swedish Yorkshire (W x Y) inter-cross pigs has earlier identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) for leucocyte number and function on porcine chromosomes 1 and 8 (SSC 1 and 8). To verify the involvement of these chromosomal regions in the regulation of haematocrit (Hem) and haemoglobin (Hb) levels, leucocyte numbers and in vitro leukocyte functions (mitogen induced proliferation and IL-2 production, virus induced interferon-alpha production and neutrophil phagocytosis), animals of different genetic backgrounds were analysed. The animals comprised a back-cross sire family (n=47) of W x Y pigs and six crossbred [Y x Landrace (L)] sire families (n=191). They were genotyped for 16 genetic markers and an interval analysis was performed. On SSC1, a QTL close to S0082 on the q-arm that influenced numbers of white blood cells in L x Y pigs and numbers of band neutrophils and CD8(+) cells in W x Y pigs was identified (Parm close to S0008 with influence on numbers of CD2(+) cells in W x Y pigs (Ppigs. For L x Y pigs, a second QTL, distal to KIT and close to S0069, on SSC8 influenced the numbers of MHCII(+) cells and mitogen induced proliferation (PIgM(+) cells in these pigs (Pparameters and some candidate genes were suggested.