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Stejskalova K, Janova E, Splichalova P, Futas J, Oppelt J, Vodicka R, Horin P. Twelve toll-like receptor (TLR) genes in the family Equidae - comparative genomics, selection and evolution. Vet Res Commun 2024; 48:725-741. [PMID: 37874499 PMCID: PMC10998774 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-023-10245-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) represent an important part of the innate immune system. While human and murine TLRs have been intensively studied, little is known about TLRs in non-model species. The order Perissodactyla comprises a variety of free-living and domesticated species exposed to different pathogens in different habitats and is therefore suitable for analyzing the diversity and evolution of immunity-related genes. We analyzed TLR genes in the order Perissodactyla with a focus on the family Equidae. Twelve TLRs were identified by bioinformatic analyses of online genomic resources; their sequences were confirmed in equids by genomic DNA re-sequencing of a panel of nine species. The expression of TLR11 and TLR12 was confirmed in the domestic horse by cDNA sequencing. Phylogenetic reconstruction of the TLR gene family in Perissodactyla identified six sub-families. TLR4 clustered together with TLR5; the TLR1-6-10 subfamily showed a high degree of sequence identity. The average estimated evolutionary divergence of all twelve TLRs studied was 0.3% among the Equidae; the most divergent CDS were those of Equus caballus and Equus hemionus kulan (1.34%) in the TLR3, and Equus africanus somaliensis and Equus quagga antiquorum (2.1%) in the TLR1 protein. In each TLR gene, there were haplotypes shared between equid species, most extensively in TLR3 and TLR9 CDS, and TLR6 amino acid sequence. All twelve TLR genes were under strong negative overall selection. Signatures of diversifying selection in specific codon sites were detected in all TLRs except TLR8. Differences in the selection patterns between virus-sensing and non-viral TLRs were observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Stejskalova
- Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, 61242, Czech Republic
| | - E Janova
- Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, 61242, Czech Republic
- RG Animal Immunogenomics, CEITEC VETUNI, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - P Splichalova
- Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, 61242, Czech Republic
| | - J Futas
- Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, 61242, Czech Republic
- RG Animal Immunogenomics, CEITEC VETUNI, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - J Oppelt
- RG Animal Immunogenomics, CEITEC VETUNI, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | - P Horin
- Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, 61242, Czech Republic.
- RG Animal Immunogenomics, CEITEC VETUNI, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
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2
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Bubenikova J, Plasil M, Futas J, Stejskalova K, Klumplerova M, Oppelt J, Suchentrunk F, Burger PA, Horin P. Diversity of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and natural killer cell receptor (NKR) genes and their interactions in domestic horses. HLA 2024; 103:e15387. [PMID: 38358031 DOI: 10.1111/tan.15387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The immunogenome is the part of the genome that underlies immune mechanisms and evolves under various selective pressures. Two complex regions of the immunogenome, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and natural killer cell receptor (NKR) genes, play an important role in the response to selective pressures of pathogens. Their importance is expressed by their genetic polymorphism at the molecular level, and their diversity associated with different types of diseases at the population level. Findings of associations between specific combinations of MHC/NKR haplotypes with different diseases in model species suggest that these gene complexes did not evolve independently. No such associations have been described in horses so far. The aim of the study was to detect associations between MHC and NKR gene/microsatellite haplotypes in three horse breed groups (Camargue, African, and Romanian) by statistical methods; chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, Pearson's goodness-of-fit test and logistic regression. Associations were detected for both MHC/NKR genes and microsatellites; the most significant associations were found between the most variable KLRA3 gene and the EQCA-1 or EQCA-2 genes. This finding supports the assumption that the KLRA3 is an important receptor for MHC I and that interactions of these molecules play important roles in the horse immunity and reproduction. Despite some limitations of the study such as low numbers of horses or lack of knowledge of the selected genes functions, the results were consistent across different statistical methods and remained significant even after overconservative Bonferroni corrections. We therefore consider them biologically plausible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Bubenikova
- Research Group Animal Immunogenomics, CEITEC VETUNI, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Martin Plasil
- Research Group Animal Immunogenomics, CEITEC VETUNI, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Jan Futas
- Research Group Animal Immunogenomics, CEITEC VETUNI, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Karla Stejskalova
- Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Marie Klumplerova
- Research Group Animal Immunogenomics, CEITEC VETUNI, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Jan Oppelt
- Research Group Animal Immunogenomics, CEITEC VETUNI, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Franz Suchentrunk
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Pamela A Burger
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Petr Horin
- Research Group Animal Immunogenomics, CEITEC VETUNI, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
- Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
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Dornburg A, Mallik R, Wang Z, Bernal MA, Thompson B, Bruford EA, Nebert DW, Vasiliou V, Yohe LR, Yoder JA, Townsend JP. Placing human gene families into their evolutionary context. Hum Genomics 2022; 16:56. [PMID: 36369063 PMCID: PMC9652883 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-022-00429-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Following the draft sequence of the first human genome over 20 years ago, we have achieved unprecedented insights into the rules governing its evolution, often with direct translational relevance to specific diseases. However, staggering sequence complexity has also challenged the development of a more comprehensive understanding of human genome biology. In this context, interspecific genomic studies between humans and other animals have played a critical role in our efforts to decode human gene families. In this review, we focus on how the rapid surge of genome sequencing of both model and non-model organisms now provides a broader comparative framework poised to empower novel discoveries. We begin with a general overview of how comparative approaches are essential for understanding gene family evolution in the human genome, followed by a discussion of analyses of gene expression. We show how homology can provide insights into the genes and gene families associated with immune response, cancer biology, vision, chemosensation, and metabolism, by revealing similarity in processes among distant species. We then explain methodological tools that provide critical advances and show the limitations of common approaches. We conclude with a discussion of how these investigations position us to gain fundamental insights into the evolution of gene families among living organisms in general. We hope that our review catalyzes additional excitement and research on the emerging field of comparative genomics, while aiding the placement of the human genome into its existentially evolutionary context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Dornburg
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, UNC-Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA.
| | - Rittika Mallik
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, UNC-Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Zheng Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Moisés A Bernal
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Brian Thompson
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Elspeth A Bruford
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Daniel W Nebert
- Department of Environmental Health, Center for Environmental Genetics, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, P.O. Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Developmental Biology, Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Vasilis Vasiliou
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Laurel R Yohe
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, UNC-Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Yoder
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Jeffrey P Townsend
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, UNC-Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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4
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Plasil M, Futas J, Jelinek A, Burger PA, Horin P. Comparative Genomics of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) of Felids. Front Genet 2022; 13:829891. [PMID: 35309138 PMCID: PMC8924298 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.829891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
This review summarizes the current knowledge on the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of the family Felidae. This family comprises an important domestic species, the cat, as well as a variety of free-living felids, including several endangered species. As such, the Felidae have the potential to be an informative model for studying different aspects of the biological functions of MHC genes, such as their role in disease mechanisms and adaptation to different environments, as well as the importance of genetic diversity for conservation issues in free-ranging or captive populations. Despite this potential, the current knowledge on the MHC in the family as a whole is fragmentary and based mostly on studies of the domestic cat and selected species of big cats. The overall structure of the domestic cat MHC is similar to other mammalian MHCs following the general scheme “centromere-MHC class I-MHC class III-MHC class II” with some differences in the gene contents. An unambiguously defined orthologue of the non-classical class I HLA-E gene has not been identified so far and the class II DQ and DP genes are missing or pseudogenized, respectively. A comparison with available genomes of other felids showed a generally high level of structural and sequence conservation of the MHC region. Very little and fragmentary information on in vitro and/or in vivo biological functions of felid MHC genes is available. So far, no association studies have indicated effects of MHC genetic diversity on a particular disease. No information is available on the role of MHC class I molecules in interactions with Natural Killer (NK) cell receptors or on the putative evolutionary interactions (co-evolution) of the underlying genes. A comparison of complex genomic regions encoding NK cell receptors (the Leukocyte Receptor Complex, LRC and the Natural Killer Cell Complex, NKC) in the available felid genomes showed a higher variability in the NKC compared to the LRC and the MHC regions. Studies of the genetic diversity of domestic cat populations and/or specific breeds have focused mainly on DRB genes. Not surprisingly, higher levels of MHC diversity were observed in stray cats compared to pure breeds, as evaluated by DRB sequencing as well as by MHC-linked microsatellite typing. Immunogenetic analysis in wild felids has only been performed on MHC class I and II loci in tigers, Namibian leopards and cheetahs. This information is important as part of current conservation tasks to assess the adaptive potential of endangered wild species at the human-wildlife interface, which will be essential for preserving biodiversity in a functional ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Plasil
- Research Group Animal Immunogenomics, Ceitec Vetuni, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Futas
- Research Group Animal Immunogenomics, Ceitec Vetuni, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - April Jelinek
- Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pamela A. Burger
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, VIA, Vienna, Austria
| | - Petr Horin
- Research Group Animal Immunogenomics, Ceitec Vetuni, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- *Correspondence: Petr Horin,
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Klumplerova M, Splichalova P, Oppelt J, Futas J, Kohutova A, Musilova P, Kubickova S, Vodicka R, Orlando L, Horin P. Genetic diversity, evolution and selection in the major histocompatibility complex DRB and DQB loci in the family Equidae. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:677. [PMID: 32998693 PMCID: PMC7525986 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-07089-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The mammalian Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) is a genetic region containing highly polymorphic genes with immunological functions. MHC class I and class II genes encode antigen-presenting molecules expressed on the cell surface. The MHC class II sub-region contains genes expressed in antigen presenting cells. The antigen binding site is encoded by the second exon of genes encoding antigen presenting molecules. The exon 2 sequences of these MHC genes have evolved under the selective pressure of pathogens. Interspecific differences can be observed in the class II sub-region. The family Equidae includes a variety of domesticated, and free-ranging species inhabiting a range of habitats exposed to different pathogens and represents a model for studying this important part of the immunogenome. While equine MHC class II DRA and DQA loci have received attention, the genetic diversity and effects of selection on DRB and DQB loci have been largely overlooked. This study aimed to provide the first in-depth analysis of the MHC class II DRB and DQB loci in the Equidae family. Results Three DRB and two DQB genes were identified in the genomes of all equids. The genes DRB2, DRB3 and DQB3 showed high sequence conservation, while polymorphisms were more frequent at DRB1 and DQB1 across all species analyzed. DQB2 was not found in the genome of the Asiatic asses Equus hemionus kulan and E. h. onager. The bioinformatic analysis of non-zero-coverage-bases of DRB and DQB genes in 14 equine individual genomes revealed differences among individual genes. Evidence for recombination was found for DRB1, DRB2, DQB1 and DQB2 genes. Trans-species allele sharing was identified in all genes except DRB1. Site-specific selection analysis predicted genes evolving under positive selection both at DRB and DQB loci. No selected amino acid sites were identified in DQB3. Conclusions The organization of the MHC class II sub-region of equids is similar across all species of the family. Genomic sequences, along with phylogenetic trees suggesting effects of selection as well as trans-species polymorphism support the contention that pathogen-driven positive selection has shaped the MHC class II DRB/DQB sub-regions in the Equidae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Klumplerova
- Department of Animal Genetics, Veterinary and Pharmaceutical University, Brno, Czech Republic.,Ceitec VFU, RG Animal Immunogenomics, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Splichalova
- Department of Animal Genetics, Veterinary and Pharmaceutical University, Brno, Czech Republic.,Ceitec VFU, RG Animal Immunogenomics, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Oppelt
- Ceitec VFU, RG Animal Immunogenomics, Brno, Czech Republic.,Ceitec MU, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,National Centre for Biomolecular research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Futas
- Department of Animal Genetics, Veterinary and Pharmaceutical University, Brno, Czech Republic.,Ceitec VFU, RG Animal Immunogenomics, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Aneta Kohutova
- Department of Animal Genetics, Veterinary and Pharmaceutical University, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Musilova
- Department of Genetics and Reproductive Biotechnologies, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic.,Ceitec VRI, RG Animal Cytogenomics, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Svatava Kubickova
- Department of Genetics and Reproductive Biotechnologies, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic.,Ceitec VRI, RG Animal Cytogenomics, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Roman Vodicka
- Zoo Prague, U Trojského zámku 120/3, 171 00, Praha 7, Czech Republic
| | - Ludovic Orlando
- Laboratoire d'Anthropobiologie Moléculaire et d'Imagerie de Synthèse, CNRS UMR 5288, Université de Toulouse, Université Paul Sabatier, 31000, Toulouse, France.,Centre for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350K, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Petr Horin
- Department of Animal Genetics, Veterinary and Pharmaceutical University, Brno, Czech Republic. .,Ceitec VFU, RG Animal Immunogenomics, Brno, Czech Republic.
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A genome-wide scan for candidate lethal variants in Thoroughbred horses. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13153. [PMID: 32753654 PMCID: PMC7403398 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68946-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Domestic animal populations are often characterised by high rates of inbreeding and low effective population sizes due to selective breeding practices. These practices can result in otherwise rare recessive deleterious alleles drifting to high frequencies, resulting in reduced fertility rates. This study aimed to identify potential recessive lethal haplotypes in the Thoroughbred horse breed, a closed population that has been selectively bred for racing performance. In this study, we identified a haplotype in the LY49B gene that shows strong evidence of being homozygous lethal, despite having high frequencies of heterozygotes in Thoroughbreds and other domestic horse breeds. Variant analysis of whole-genome sequence data identified two SNPs in the 3'UTR of the LY49B gene that may result in loss of function. Analysis of transcriptomic data from equine embryonic tissue revealed that LY49B is expressed in the trophoblast during placentation stage of development. These findings suggest that LY49B may have an essential, but as yet unknown function in the implantation stage of equine development. Further investigation of this region may allow for the development of a genetic test to improve fertility rates in horse populations. Identification of other lethal variants could assist in improving natural levels of fertility in horse populations.
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Futas J, Oppelt J, Janova E, Musilova P, Horin P. Complex variation in the KLRA (LY49) immunity-related genomic region in horses. HLA 2020; 96:257-267. [PMID: 32421927 DOI: 10.1111/tan.13939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells play important roles in innate and adaptive immunity, as well as in the reproduction of placental mammals. Ly49 (KLRA) molecules represent a lectin-like type of NK cell receptor encoded within a complex genomic region, the NK cell complex. In rodents and horses, an expansion of the genes encoding Ly49 receptors leading to the formation of a gene family was observed. High sequence similarities and frequent high polymorphism of multiple family members represent an obstacle both for their individual identification and for annotation in the reference genomes of their respective species. Here, we focused on resolving complex variation of the KLRA gene family observed in domestic and Przewalski's horses. The KLRA (LY49) genomic region contains six genes (KLRA2-KLRA7) and one putative pseudogene, KLRA1. Two types of polymorphism were observed in the horses analyzed. Copy number variation between haplotypes was documented for the gene KLRA7 by polymerase chain reaction. As expected, the major source of variation of all KLRA genes, including KLRA7, is because of single nucleotide polymorphisms, many of them being nonsynonymous substitutions. Extensive allelic variability of the expanded KLRA (LY49) genes was observed. For four out of the six functional KLRA, high numbers of novel allelic amino acid sequence variants were identified in the genes studied, suggesting that this variation might be of functional importance, especially in the context of high polymorphism of their presumed ligands encoded by major histocompatibility complex class I genes. In fact, polymorphic amino acid sites were mostly found in the ligand-binding C-type lectin-like domain of the putative receptor molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Futas
- RG Animal Immunogenomics, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC)-VFU Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences (VFU) Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Oppelt
- RG Animal Immunogenomics, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC)-VFU Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Janova
- RG Animal Immunogenomics, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC)-VFU Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences (VFU) Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Musilova
- RG Cytogenomics, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC)-Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Horin
- RG Animal Immunogenomics, Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC)-VFU Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences (VFU) Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
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Stejskalova K, Janova E, Horecky C, Horecka E, Vaclavek P, Hubalek Z, Relling K, Cvanova M, D'Amico G, Mihalca AD, Modry D, Knoll A, Horin P. Associations between the presence of specific antibodies to the West Nile Virus infection and candidate genes in Romanian horses from the Danube delta. Mol Biol Rep 2019; 46:4453-4461. [PMID: 31175514 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-019-04900-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus causing meningoencephalitis in humans and animals. Due to their particular susceptibility to WNV infection, horses serve as a sentinel species. In a population of Romanian semi-feral horses living in the Danube delta region, we have analyzed the distribution of candidate polymorphic genetic markers between anti WNV-IgG seropositive and seronegative horses. Thirty-six SNPs located in 28 immunity-related genes and 26 microsatellites located in the MHC and LY49 complex genomic regions were genotyped in 57 seropositive and 32 seronegative horses. The most significant association (pcorr < 0.0002) was found for genotypes composed of markers of the SLC11A1 and TLR4 genes. Markers of five other candidate genes (ADAM17, CXCR3, IL12A, MAVS, TNFA), along with 5 MHC class I and LY49-linked microsatellites were also associated with the WNV antibody status in this model horse population. The OAS1 gene, previously associated with WNV-induced clinical disease, was not associated with the presence of anti-WNV antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Stejskalova
- Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackeho 1, 61242, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - E Janova
- Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackeho 1, 61242, Brno, Czech Republic.,CEITEC-VFU, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackeho 1, 61242, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - C Horecky
- Department of Animal Morphology, Physiology and Genetics, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1/1665, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,CEITEC-MENDELU, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1/1665, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - E Horecka
- Department of Animal Morphology, Physiology and Genetics, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1/1665, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,CEITEC-MENDELU, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1/1665, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - P Vaclavek
- SVU Jihlava, Rantirovska 93/20, Horni Kosov, 58601, Jihlava, Czech Republic
| | - Z Hubalek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 60365, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - K Relling
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackeho tr. 1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - M Cvanova
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - G D'Amico
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, 400362, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - A D Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, 400362, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - D Modry
- CEITEC-VFU, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackeho 1, 61242, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Pathology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackeho tr. 1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic.,Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice, 370 05, Czech Republic
| | - A Knoll
- Department of Animal Morphology, Physiology and Genetics, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1/1665, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic.,CEITEC-MENDELU, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1/1665, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - P Horin
- Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackeho 1, 61242, Brno, Czech Republic. .,CEITEC-VFU, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackeho 1, 61242, Brno, Czech Republic.
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9
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Horecky C, Horecka E, Futas J, Janova E, Horin P, Knoll A. Microsatellite markers for evaluating the diversity of the natural killer complex and major histocompatibility complex genomic regions in domestic horses. HLA 2018; 91:271-279. [PMID: 29341455 DOI: 10.1111/tan.13211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Revised: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Genotyping microsatellite markers represents a standard, relatively easy, and inexpensive method of assessing genetic diversity of complex genomic regions in various animal species, such as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and/or natural killer cell receptor (NKR) genes. MHC-linked microsatellite markers have been identified and some of them were used for characterizing MHC polymorphism in various species, including horses. However, most of those were MHC class II markers, while MHC class I and III sub-regions were less well covered. No tools for studying genetic diversity of NKR complex genomic regions are available in horses. Therefore, the aims of this work were to establish a panel of markers suitable for analyzing genetic diversity of the natural killer complex (NKC), and to develop additional microsatellite markers of the MHC class I and class III genomic sub-regions in horses. Nine polymorphic microsatellite loci were newly identified in the equine NKC. Along with two previously reported microsatellites flanking this region, they constituted a panel of 11 loci allowing to characterize genetic variation in this functionally important part of the horse genome. Four newly described MHC class I/III-linked markers were added to 11 known microsatellites to establish a panel of 15 MHC markers with a better coverage of the class I and class III sub-regions. Major characteristics of the two panels produced on a group of 65 horses of 13 breeds and on five Przewalski's horses showed that they do reflect genetic variation within the horse species.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Horecky
- Department of Animal Morphology, Physiology and Genetics, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,CEITEC-MENDELU, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - E Horecka
- Department of Animal Morphology, Physiology and Genetics, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,CEITEC-MENDELU, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - J Futas
- Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,CEITEC-VFU, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - E Janova
- Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,CEITEC-VFU, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - P Horin
- Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,CEITEC-VFU, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - A Knoll
- Department of Animal Morphology, Physiology and Genetics, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,CEITEC-MENDELU, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
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10
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Parham P, Guethlein LA. Genetics of Natural Killer Cells in Human Health, Disease, and Survival. Annu Rev Immunol 2018; 36:519-548. [PMID: 29394121 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-immunol-042617-053149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells have vital functions in human immunity and reproduction. In the innate and adaptive immune responses to infection, particularly by viruses, NK cells respond by secreting inflammatory cytokines and killing infected cells. In reproduction, NK cells are critical for genesis of the placenta, the organ that controls the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the growing fetus. Controlling NK cell functions are interactions of HLA class I with inhibitory NK cell receptors. First evolved was the conserved interaction of HLA-E with CD94:NKG2A; later established were diverse interactions of HLA-A, -B, and -C with killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors. Characterizing the latter interactions is rapid evolution, which distinguishes human populations and all species of higher primate. Driving this evolution are the different and competing selections imposed by pathogens on NK cell-mediated immunity and by the constraints of human reproduction on NK cell-mediated placentation. Promoting rapid evolution is independent segregation of polymorphic receptors and ligands throughout human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Parham
- Department of Structural Biology and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA; ,
| | - Lisbeth A Guethlein
- Department of Structural Biology and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA; ,
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11
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Schwartz JC, Gibson MS, Heimeier D, Koren S, Phillippy AM, Bickhart DM, Smith TPL, Medrano JF, Hammond JA. The evolution of the natural killer complex; a comparison between mammals using new high-quality genome assemblies and targeted annotation. Immunogenetics 2017; 69:255-269. [PMID: 28180967 PMCID: PMC5350243 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-017-0973-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are a diverse population of lymphocytes with a range of biological roles including essential immune functions. NK cell diversity is in part created by the differential expression of cell surface receptors which modulate activation and function, including multiple subfamilies of C-type lectin receptors encoded within the NK complex (NKC). Little is known about the gene content of the NKC beyond rodent and primate lineages, other than it appears to be extremely variable between mammalian groups. We compared the NKC structure between mammalian species using new high-quality draft genome assemblies for cattle and goat; re-annotated sheep, pig, and horse genome assemblies; and the published human, rat, and mouse lemur NKC. The major NKC genes are largely in the equivalent positions in all eight species, with significant independent expansions and deletions between species, allowing us to propose a model for NKC evolution during mammalian radiation. The ruminant species, cattle and goats, have independently evolved a second KLRC locus flanked by KLRA and KLRJ, and a novel KLRH-like gene has acquired an activating tail. This novel gene has duplicated several times within cattle, while other activating receptor genes have been selectively disrupted. Targeted genome enrichment in cattle identified varying levels of allelic polymorphism between the NKC genes concentrated in the predicted extracellular ligand-binding domains. This novel recombination and allelic polymorphism is consistent with NKC evolution under balancing selection, suggesting that this diversity influences individual immune responses and may impact on differential outcomes of pathogen infection and vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C Schwartz
- Livestock Viral Diseases Programme, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Surrey, GU24 0NF, UK
| | - Mark S Gibson
- Livestock Viral Diseases Programme, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Surrey, GU24 0NF, UK
- CEDOC, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1150-082, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Dorothea Heimeier
- Livestock Viral Diseases Programme, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Surrey, GU24 0NF, UK
| | - Sergey Koren
- Genome Informatics Section, Computational and Statistical Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Adam M Phillippy
- Genome Informatics Section, Computational and Statistical Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Derek M Bickhart
- Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA
| | | | - Juan F Medrano
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - John A Hammond
- Livestock Viral Diseases Programme, The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Surrey, GU24 0NF, UK.
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12
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Rahim MMA, Makrigiannis AP. Ly49 receptors: evolution, genetic diversity, and impact on immunity. Immunol Rev 2016; 267:137-47. [PMID: 26284475 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells express cell surface receptors that recognize class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC-I) molecules to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy cells. The multigenic and polymorphic nature of the MHC-I genes has influenced the convergent evolution of similarly polymorphic and diversified NK cell receptor families: the C-type lectin-like Ly49 receptors in mice, and the killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) in humans. Although structurally distinct, both receptor families have similar functions in terms of MHC-I recognition and downstream signal transduction, and they regulate multiple aspects of NK cell biology during development and after maturation as fully differentiated and functionally competent cells. The Ly49 gene locus has undergone rapid, lineage-specific expansions and contractions resulting in multiple distinct haplotypes of variable gene number, allelic diversity, and MHC-I ligand specificity. This in turn has influenced the type and degree of Ly49 receptor expression on NK cells, and their contribution to immunity in different mouse strains. In this review, we have attempted to describe the evolutionary processes that have shaped strain-specific Ly49 receptor repertoires, and their impact on NK cell functions during health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mir Munir A Rahim
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Andrew P Makrigiannis
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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13
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Guethlein LA, Norman PJ, Hilton HG, Parham P. Co-evolution of MHC class I and variable NK cell receptors in placental mammals. Immunol Rev 2016; 267:259-82. [PMID: 26284483 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Shaping natural killer (NK) cell functions in human immunity and reproduction are diverse killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) that recognize polymorphic MHC class I determinants. A survey of placental mammals suggests that KIRs serve as variable NK cell receptors only in certain primates and artiodactyls. Divergence of the functional and variable KIRs in primates and artiodactyls predates placental reproduction. Among artiodactyls, cattle but not pigs have diverse KIRs. Catarrhine (humans, apes, and Old World monkeys) and platyrrhine (New World monkeys) primates, but not prosimians, have diverse KIRs. Platyrrhine and catarrhine systems of KIR and MHC class I are highly diverged, but within the catarrhines, a stepwise co-evolution of MHC class I and KIR is discerned. In Old World monkeys, diversification focuses on MHC-A and MHC-B and their cognate lineage II KIR. With evolution of C1-bearing MHC-C from MHC-B, as informed by orangutan, the focus changes to MHC-C and its cognate lineage III KIR. Evolution of C2 from C1 and fixation of MHC-C drove further elaboration of MHC-C-specific KIR, as exemplified by chimpanzee. In humans, the evolutionary trajectory changes again. Emerging from reorganization of the KIR locus and selective attenuation of KIR avidity for MHC class I are the functionally distinctive KIR A and KIR B haplotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisbeth A Guethlein
- Department of Structural Biology and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Paul J Norman
- Department of Structural Biology and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Hugo G Hilton
- Department of Structural Biology and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Peter Parham
- Department of Structural Biology and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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14
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Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are immune cells that play a crucial role against viral infections and tumors. To be tolerant against healthy tissue and simultaneously attack infected cells, the activity of NK cells is tightly regulated by a sophisticated array of germline-encoded activating and inhibiting receptors. The best characterized mechanism of NK cell activation is “missing self” detection, i.e., the recognition of virally infected or transformed cells that reduce their MHC expression to evade cytotoxic T cells. To monitor the expression of MHC-I on target cells, NK cells have monomorphic inhibitory receptors which interact with conserved MHC molecules. However, there are other NK cell receptors (NKRs) encoded by gene families showing a remarkable genetic diversity. Thus, NKR haplotypes contain several genes encoding for receptors with activating and inhibiting signaling, and that vary in gene content and allelic polymorphism. But if missing-self detection can be achieved by a monomorphic NKR system why have these polygenic and polymorphic receptors evolved? Here, we review the expansion of NKR receptor families in different mammal species, and we discuss several hypotheses that possibly underlie the diversification of the NK cell receptor complex, including the evolution of viral decoys, peptide sensitivity, and selective MHC-downregulation.
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15
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Morris KM, Wright B, Grueber CE, Hogg C, Belov K. Lack of genetic diversity across diverse immune genes in an endangered mammal, the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). Mol Ecol 2015; 24:3860-72. [PMID: 26119928 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2015] [Revised: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is threatened with extinction due to the spread of devil facial tumour disease. Polymorphisms in immune genes can provide adaptive potential to resist diseases. Previous studies in diversity at immune loci in wild species have almost exclusively focused on genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC); however, these genes only account for a fraction of immune gene diversity. Devils lack diversity at functionally important immunity loci, including MHC and Toll-like receptor genes. Whether there are polymorphisms at devil immune genes outside these two families is unknown. Here, we identify polymorphisms in a wide range of key immune genes, and develop assays to type single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within a subset of these genes. A total of 167 immune genes were examined, including cytokines, chemokines and natural killer cell receptors. Using genome-level data from ten devils, SNPs within coding regions, introns and 10 kb flanking genes of interest were identified. We found low polymorphism across 167 immune genes examined bioinformatically using whole-genome data. From this data, we developed long amplicon assays to target nine genes. These amplicons were sequenced in 29-220 devils and found to contain 78 SNPs, including eight SNPS within exons. Despite the extreme paucity of genetic diversity within these genes, signatures of balancing selection were exhibited by one chemokine gene, suggesting that remaining diversity may hold adaptive potential. The low functional diversity may leave devils highly vulnerable to infectious disease, and therefore, monitoring and preserving remaining diversity will be critical for the long-term management of this species. Examining genetic variation in diverse immune genes should be a priority for threatened wildlife species. This study can act as a model for broad-scale immunogenetic diversity analysis in threatened species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina M Morris
- University of Sydney, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Belinda Wright
- University of Sydney, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Catherine E Grueber
- University of Sydney, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.,San Diego Zoo Global, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Carolyn Hogg
- Zoo and Aquarium Association, Mosman, NSW, 2088, Australia
| | - Katherine Belov
- University of Sydney, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
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16
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Sanderson ND, Norman PJ, Guethlein LA, Ellis SA, Williams C, Breen M, Park SDE, Magee DA, Babrzadeh F, Warry A, Watson M, Bradley DG, MacHugh DE, Parham P, Hammond JA. Definition of the cattle killer cell Ig-like receptor gene family: comparison with aurochs and human counterparts. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 193:6016-30. [PMID: 25398326 PMCID: PMC4258407 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1401980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Under selection pressure from pathogens, variable NK cell receptors that recognize polymorphic MHC class I evolved convergently in different species of placental mammal. Unexpectedly, diversified killer cell Ig-like receptors (KIRs) are shared by simian primates, including humans, and cattle, but not by other species. Whereas much is known of human KIR genetics and genomics, knowledge of cattle KIR is limited to nine cDNA sequences. To facilitate comparison of the cattle and human KIR gene families, we determined the genomic location, structure, and sequence of two cattle KIR haplotypes and defined KIR sequences of aurochs, the extinct wild ancestor of domestic cattle. Larger than its human counterpart, the cattle KIR locus evolved through successive duplications of a block containing ancestral KIR3DL and KIR3DX genes that existed before placental mammals. Comparison of two cattle KIR haplotypes and aurochs KIR show the KIR are polymorphic and the gene organization and content appear conserved. Of 18 genes, 8 are functional and 10 were inactivated by point mutation. Selective inactivation of KIR3DL and activating receptor genes leaves a functional cohort of one inhibitory KIR3DL, one activating KIR3DX, and six inhibitory KIR3DX. Functional KIR diversity evolved from KIR3DX in cattle and from KIR3DL in simian primates. Although independently evolved, cattle and human KIR gene families share important function-related properties, indicating that cattle KIR are NK cell receptors for cattle MHC class I. Combinations of KIR and MHC class I are the major genetic factors associated with human disease and merit investigation in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul J Norman
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94035; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94035
| | - Lisbeth A Guethlein
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94035; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94035
| | - Shirley A Ellis
- The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Woking, Surrey GU24 0NF, United Kingdom
| | - Christina Williams
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695
| | - Matthew Breen
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695; Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research, Raleigh, NC 27539; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Steven D E Park
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, School of Agriculture and Food Science, College of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - David A Magee
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, School of Agriculture and Food Science, College of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | | | - Andrew Warry
- Bioscience Information Technology Services, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Swindon SN2 1UH, United Kingdom
| | - Mick Watson
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel G Bradley
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland; and
| | - David E MacHugh
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, School of Agriculture and Food Science, College of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland; Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Peter Parham
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94035; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94035
| | - John A Hammond
- The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Woking, Surrey GU24 0NF, United Kingdom;
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