TITLE:
Association between Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in RelA with Somatic Cell Count and Longevity Supports Importance of NF-κB Signalling in Cattle Health
AUTHORS:
Xing Chen, Shujun Zhang, Zhangrui Cheng, Geoffrey E. Pollott, D. Claire Wathes
KEYWORDS:
Mastitis, Longevity, RelA, NF-κB, Dairy Cow
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.9 No.1,
January
4,
2019
ABSTRACT: Mastitis reduces milk
production and causes culling. The NF-κB transcription factor RelA plays a
central regulatory role in innate immunity. This study used a candidate gene
approach to investigate associations between the synonymous C/G SNP rs48035703
in RELA with somatic cell count (SCC)
and survival time. Blood samples were collected from 337 Holstein-Friesian
heifers on 19 farms and genotyped by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism.
Animals were monitored from 6 months until 2340 d of age. Pedigree, milk
production and disease records were obtained. Genotype frequencies were CC
0.63, CG 0.30 and GG 0.06. The C allele had a favourable additive effect on
survival: average longevities from birth were CC, 1872 d; CG, 1745 d and GG
1596 d (P -0.04 ± 0.803, P RELA rs48035703 CC genotype cows were therefore less likely to experience a high
SCC and survived longer. These results support a role for RelA in combating
mammary gland infection and warrant further studies in additional populations.