Variation in the ovine hormone-sensitive lipase gene (HSL) and its association with growth and carcass traits in New Zealand Suffolk sheep

The hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) plays an important role in the regulation of lipolysis in adipose tissues, by catalysing a rate-limiting step in triglyceride hydrolysis. Variation within the human HSL gene (HSL) has been associated with an increased risk of obesity. In this study, variation within three regions (exon 3–4, exon 5–6 and exon 9) of ovine HSL was investigated in 538 Suffolk lambs bred from 13 independent sires using PCR-SSCP. Four sequence variants of intron 5 (designated A–D) and two variants of exon 9 (designated a and b) of ovine HSL were detected. No variation was found in exon 3–4 of the gene. The associations of the variation within ovine HSL with post-weaning growth and carcass traits including eye muscle depth (EMD), eye muscle width (EMW) and fat depth above the eye muscle (FDM) were assessed in 262 of the above 538 lambs using general linear mixed-effects models. In the single variant models, the presence of intron 5 A in a lamb’s genotype was associated with reduced EMD (P = 0.036) and EMW (P = 0.018), whereas the presence of intron 5 C was associated with increased EMD (P < 0.001), EMW (P < 0.001) and FDM (P = 0.017). The association of C with increased EMD (P = 0.002) and EMW (P = 0.002) persisted in the multi-variant model. No association between HSL intron 5 variants and post-weaning growth, or between HSL exon 9 variants, post-weaning growth or carcass traits, were found.     

Haplotypic Diversity Within the Ovine Calpastatin <Emphasis Type="Italic">(CAST)</Emphasis> Gene

Calpastatin (CAST) is a protein inhibitor that acts specifically on calpains and plays a regulatory role in postmortem beef tenderization and muscle proteolysis. Polymorphisms in the bovine CAST gene have been associated with meat tenderness, but little is known about how the ovine CAST gene may affect sheep meat quality traits. In this study, we selected two parts of the ovine CAST gene that have been previously reported to be polymorphic (region 1—part of intron 5 and exon 6, and region 2—part of intron 12), to investigate haplotype diversity across an extended region of the ovine gene. First, we developed a simple and efficient polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) method for genotyping region 2, which allowed the detection of a novel allele as well as the three previously reported alleles. Next, we genotyped both regions 1 and 2 of the ovine CAST gene from a large number of sheep to determine the haplotypes present. Nine different haplotypes were found across this extended region of the ovine CAST gene and four haplotypes were identified that suggested historical recombination events within this gene. Haplotypes are typically more informative than single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for analyzing associations between genes and complex production traits, such as meat tenderness, but the potential for intragenic recombination within the ovine CAST may make finding associations challenging.     

Identification of novel SNPs of ovine <Emphasis Type="Italic">PRL</Emphasis> gene and their association with milk production traits

Prolactin (PRL) is a lactogenic hormone that plays a significant role in milk production; its depletion in sheep provokes a severe reduction of milk secretion. Thus, PRL also could be used as a positional marker gene associated with milk production and composition traits. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to identify genotype frequencies of single nucleotide polymorphisms the intron 2 in ovine PRL gene and its possible association genotypes with milk traits in dairy sheep breeds. The genetic structures of ovine PRL gene were examined by PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing methods in three sheep populations. Four hundred and fifty blood and milk samples were used in the study, which included 150 samples from each of Sakiz, Akkaraman and Awassi ewes respectively. As a result, PRL genotype AA showed a strong association with milk yields content, whereas the animals carrying BB genotype had a higher fat percentage value in the three sheep breeds. Haplotype analysis of the obtained sequences showed the presence of 12 haplotypes in the PRL intron 2 region. In the present study, we have reported for the first time 48 SNPs of the PRL gene for intron 2 in dairy sheep breeds. These preliminary results indicate that the identified SNPs lend themselves readily for further research regarding physiological impacts such as milk production and reproductive traits in other dairy sheep populations.     

Detecting novel SNPs and breed-specific haplotypes at calpastatin gene in Iranian fat- and thin-tailed sheep breeds and their effects on protein structure

Calpastatin has been introduced as a potential candidate gene for growth and meat quality traits. In this study, genetic variability was investigated in the exon 6 and its intron boundaries of ovine CAST gene by PCR-SSCP analysis and DNA sequencing. Also a protein sequence and structural analysis were performed to predict the possible impact of amino acid substitutions on physicochemical properties and structure of the CAST protein. A total of 487 animals belonging to four ancient Iranian sheep breeds with different fat metabolisms, Lori-Bakhtiari and Chall (fat-tailed), Zel-Atabay cross-bred (medium fat-tailed) and Zel (thin-tailed), were analyzed. Eight unique SSCP patterns, representing eight different sequences or haplotypes, CAST-1, CAST-2 and CAST-6 to CAST-11, were identified. Haplotypes CAST-1 and CAST-2 were most common with frequency of 0.365 and 0.295. The novel haplotype CAST-8 had considerable frequency in Iranian sheep breeds (0.129). All the consensus sequences showed 98–99%, 94–98%, 92–93% and 82–83% similarity to the published ovine, caprine, bovine and porcine CAST locus sequences, respectively. Sequence analysis revealed four SNPs in intron 5 (C24T, G62A, G65T and T69-) and three SNPs in exon 6 (c.197A > T, c.282G > T and c.296C > G). All three SNPs in exon 6 were missense mutations which would result in p.Gln 66 Leu, p.Glu 94 Asp and p.Pro 99 Arg substitutions, respectively, in CAST protein. All three amino acid substitutions affected the physicochemical properties of ovine CAST protein including hydrophobicity, amphiphilicity and net charge and subsequently might influence its structure and effect on the activity of Ca2 + channels; hence, they might regulate calpain activity and afterwards meat tenderness and growth rate. The Lori-Bakhtiari population showed the highest heterozygosity in the ovine CAST locus (0.802). Frequency difference of haplotypes CAST-10 and CAST-8 between Lori-Bakhtiari (fat-tailed) and Zel (thin-tailed) breeds was highly significant (P < 0.001), indicating that these two haplotypes might be breed-specific haplotypes that distinguish between fat-tailed and thin-tailed sheep breeds.     

Genomic structure and expression of a gene coding for a new fatty acid binding protein from Echinococcus granulosus

This work describes a new gene coding for a fatty acid binding protein (FABP) in the parasite Echinococcus granulosus, named EgFABP2. The complete gene structure, including the promoter sequence, is reported. The genomic coding domain organisation of the previously reported E. granulosus FABP gene (EgFABP1) has been also determined. The corresponding polypeptide chains share 76% of identical residues and an overall 96% of similarity. The two EgFABPs present the highest amino acid homologies with the mammalian FABP subfamily containing heart-FABPs (H-FABPs). The coding sequences of both genes are interrupted by a single intron located in the position of the third intron reported for vertebrate FABP genes. Both genes are expressed in the protoscolex stage of the parasite. The promoter region of EgFABP2 presents several consensus putative cis-acting elements found in other members of the family, suggesting interesting possible mechanisms involved in the host–parasite adaptation.     

Biosynthesis of lutropin in ovine pituitary slices: Incorporation of [35S]sulfate in carbohydrate units

Sulfate incorporation into carbohydrate of lutropin (LH) has been studied in sheep pituitary slices using H₂³⁵SO₄. Labeled ovine LH was purified to homogeneity by Sephadex G-100 and carboxymethyl-Sephadex chromatography from both the incubation medium and tissue extract. Autoradiography of the gel showed only two protein bands which comigrated with the α and β subunits of ovine LH in both the purified ovine LH and the immunoprecipitate obtained with LH-specific rabbit antiserum. Furthermore, [³⁵S]sulfate was also incorporated into several other proteins in addition to LH. The location of ³⁵SO₄^2? in the oligosaccharides of ovine LH was evidenced by its presence in the glycopeptides obtained by exhaustive Pronase digestion. The location and the point of attachment of sulfate in the carbohydrate unit were established by the isolation of 4-O-[³⁵S]sulfo-N-acetylhexosaminyl-glycerols and 4-O-[³⁵S]sulfo-N-acetylglucosaminitol from the Smith degradation products and by the release of ³⁵SO₄^2? by chondro-4-sulfatase. Thus, the present line of experimentation indicates the presence of sulfate on both the terminal N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylgalactosamine in the oligosaccharide chains of the labeled ovine LH.     

Polymorphism of the ovine keratin-associated protein 1-4 gene (<Emphasis Type="Italic">KRTAP1-4</Emphasis>)

Keratin-associated proteins (KAPs) are one of the main structural components of the wool fibre and form a semi-rigid matrix in which the keratin intermediate filaments are embedded. Variation in the KAP genes may affect the structure of KAPs and hence wool characteristics. In this study, we used PCR-SSCP to analyse ovine KRTAP1-4 (previously B2D), a gene encoding a member of the KAP1-x family. Nine different PCR-SSCP patterns were detected in the 320 sheep that were analysed. Either one or a combination of two patterns was observed for each sheep, which was consistent with these sheep being either homozygous or heterozygous for this gene. DNA sequencing revealed that these patterns represent nine different DNA sequences. All of these sequences were unique, but shared a high homology with the published ovine KRTAP1-4 sequence, suggesting that these sequences represent allelic variants of KRTAP1-4. There were a total of 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified and these SNPs tended to be clustered in two regions. Of the 13 SNPs found in the coding region, nine were non-synonymous SNPs and would result in amino acid changes. The variation detected here may have an impact on the structure of KAP1-4 and hence affect wool traits.     

In Vivo Rescue of a Silent tax-Deficient Bovine Leukemia Virus from a Tumor-Derived Ovine B-Cell Line by Recombination with a Retrovirally Transduced Wild-Type tax Gene

The lack of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) expression is a consistent finding in freshly isolated ovine tumor cells and in the B-cell lines derived from these tumors. In order to gain further insight into the mechanisms of BLV silencing in these tumors, we have used the YR2 B-cell line, which was derived from the leukemic cells of a BLV-infected sheep. This cell line contains a single, monoclonally integrated, silent provirus, which cannot be reactivated either by stimulation in vitro or by in vivo injection of the tumor cells or cloned proviral DNA in sheep. Sequence analysis of the tax gene from the YR2 cell line identified two G-to-A transitions (G₇₉₂₄ to A₇₉₂₄ and G₈₁₄₉ to A₈₁₄₉) that result in E-to-K amino acid changes at positions 228 and 303 in the Tax protein. Following retroviral vector-mediated transfer of a wild-type tax gene into YR2 cells, we showed that BLV mRNA, viral proteins, and virions were produced, demonstrating that the cellular factors required for virus expression were present in the original YR2 cell line. Injection of this transduced YR2 cell line in sheep led to the rescue of replication-competent BLV proviruses. The integrated competent proviruses exhibited unique chimeric tax genes, which arose from homologous recombination between the transduced wild-type tax and the YR2-derived tax sequences. Furthermore, in one of these functional recombinant proviruses, only the A₈₁₄₉-to-G₈₁₄₉ reversion was present, providing clear evidence that the defect underlying the silent phenotype in YR2 cells results from a single C-terminal E₃₀₃-to-K₃₀₃ amino acid substitution in the BLV Tax protein. Our observations suggest that a single strategically located mutation in tax provides a mechanism for BLV inactivation in B-cell tumors.     

In-vivo composition of carcass regions in lambs of two genetic lines,and selection of CT positions for estimation of each region

Data on 155 lambs computer tomography (CT) scanned at a mean age of 118 days and 41.5 kg were included in this study. The object was to examine in vivo composition in three major carcass regions, the leg, the mid-region and the shoulder of lambs of two genetic lines, a meat line (ML) and a control line (CL). Additionally, the study aimed to determine the best scan positions for estimating tissue weights in each region. Images were taken at 40 mm intervals, on average 23 scans per animal. Each CT scan was located to an anatomical position and to one of the three regions. Weight of lean, fat and bone was found for each region from all images located to a region. Tissue weights, and proportion of lean, fat and bone relative to the total weight of the region, was found by GLM adjusted for fixed effects and live weight (covariate). Stepwise regression procedure was used to find the best combination of scan sites for estimation of composition in each region.The ML had a significantly heavier weight and larger proportion of lean, and a lower proportion of bone in all regions compared to the CL. Furthermore, the ML had a lower proportion of fat in the leg and the mid-region than the CL (P < 0.05). Moreover, the ML had a larger weight of lean in the leg than in the shoulder compared to CL (P < 0.05). The latter indicated that selection for lean and introduction of Texel into the ML had increased the development of lean in the leg compared to the shoulder. Both lines had largest percentage lean (78–80%) in the leg and lowest in the shoulder (70–72%), whereas smallest percentage fat was found in the leg.A minimum of two scan sites should be recorded for estimations of the shoulder and the mid-region, and three for the leg. The best combination of scan positions for the shoulder was the 6th thoracic and the 7th cervical vertebra, for the mid-region the 4th lumbar and the 8th thoracic vertebra, and for the leg the 3rd and 4th caudal and the 4th sacral vertebra. Using these scan sites for estimation of tissue weights in each region, the R² ranged from 0.894 to 0.978 for lean and fat and from 0.689 to 0.833 for bone.     

Diversity of the glycine/tyrosine-rich keratin-associated protein 6 gene (<Emphasis Type="Italic">KAP6</Emphasis>) family in sheep

Keratin-associated proteins (KAPs) are structural components of wool and variation in them may affect wool characteristics. In this study, we used PCR-SSCP to analyse the ovine KAP6 family which encodes glycine and tyrosine-rich KAPs. Five unique PCR-SSCP patterns were detected in the 250 sheep investigated. Between two and five patterns were observed in individual sheep and none with only one pattern was detected. This suggests the amplicons were heterogeneous and derived from more than one locus. To analyse these heterogeneous PCR amplicons, a sequencing approach using SSCP to separate individual amplified sequences, was developed. Using this approach, five DNA sequences (A–E) representing five unique PCR-SSCP patterns were obtained. D was identical to a published ovine KAP6-1 sequence (GenBank accession no. M95719), whereas the others were novel, but the closest homology was with KAP6 sequences from human, sheep, goats and cattle. The five ovine KAP6 sequences could be assigned into three distinct groups. B and D were identical to each other, with the exception of a 57-bp deletion/insertion and a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the 3′-UTR region. These appear to be allelic variants of ovine KAP6-1. A and C could form another group, as they were similar to each other (with only one synonymous SNP), but different to the other sequences. This group appears to be related to a sheep KAP6 amino acid sequence, and represent allelic variation at another KAP6 locus (designated KAP6-2). The remaining sequence E did not show high sequence homology with either the KAP6-1 or KAP6-2 sequences, but exhibited homology with a bovine KAP6-3 sequence, with the exception of a deletion/insertion of 30 nucleotides. This suggests that E represents ovine KAP6-3. This sequence was detected in only 11% of the sheep investigated, suggesting either a KAP6-3 null allele, or failure to amplify allleles. These results suggest that ovine KAP6 is a complex gene family, that is not only comprised multiple loci, but that is also polymorphic.     

Functional polymorphisms to modulate luminal lipid exposure and risk of colorectal cancer

Purpose Fat absorption may play a crucial role in colorectal carcinogenesis by determining intra-colonic exposure to potentially carcinogenic lipid metabolites. Methods We conducted a population-based case–control study that included 1163 cases and 1501 controls to examine whether individuals who carry genetic variants associated with lower lipid absorption have a higher risk of colorectal cancer. Using Taqman assay, we determined FABP2 alanine (A)/threonine (T) polymorphism at codon 54 in exon-2 and APOE isoforms. Multivariable odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by unconditional logistic regression models, assuming FABP2 A54 and APO non-E4 as high risk alleles. Results We found no associations with either of the polymorphisms. The OR associated with FABP2 A54 homozygotes compared with the others was 1.01 (95% CI; 0.86–1.45) and that for non-ApoE4 carriers compared with carries was 0.95 (95% CI; 0.80–1.13). However, there was a statistically significant negative interaction between total fat intake and FABP2 AA genotypes (p = 0.025), indicating that the risk of colorectal cancer associated with this polymorphism is higher in the subjects with lower fat intake. Conclusions These results suggest that these SNPs may not be useful in predicting colorectal cancer risk in populations with high fat intake.     

Genetic variations in the myostatin gene (MSTN) in New Zealand sheep breeds

Myostatin, which is also known as growth and differentiation factor 8 (GDF8), acts as a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth. Variation in the myostatin gene (MSTN) has been associated with variation in muscularity in many animals including sheep. Polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis was used to investigate MSTN in a diverse range of sheep breeds including the New Zealand (NZ) Romney, Coopworth, Corriedale, Dorper, Perendale, Suffolk, Merino, Dorset Down, Poll Dorset, Texel and other NZ cross-bred sheep. A total of 28 nucleotide substitutions were identified from nucleotide c.-1199 in the promoter region to c.*1813 (based on NCBI GenBank accession number DQ530260) and including the well-described substitution c.*1232G>A (MSTN g+6223G>A). Of these 28 substitutions, 3 were located in the promoter region, 3 in the 5′UTR, 11 in intron 1, 5 in intron 2 and 5 in the 3′UTR. One substitution in exon 1 (c.101G>A) potentially results in an amino acid substitution of glutamic acid (Glu) with glycine (Gly) at codon 34. Ten of these substitutions have not been reported previously. The genetic variation revealed in this study suggests this gene is more variable than hitherto reported and provides a foundation for future research into how this variation affects muscle and growth traits.     

Association of IGF1 and KDM5A polymorphisms with performance, fatness and carcass traits in chickens

Two functional and positional candidate genes were selected in a region of chicken chromosome 1 (GGA1), based on their biological roles, and also where several quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been mapped and associated with performance, fatness and carcass traits in chickens. The insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) gene has been associated with several physiological functions related to growth. The lysine (K)-specific demethylase 5A (KDM5A) gene participates in the epigenetic regulation of genes involved with the cell cycle. Our objective was to find associations of selected single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these genes with performance, fatness and carcass traits in 165 F₂ chickens from a resource population. In the IGF1 gene, 17 SNPs were detected, and in the KDM5A gene, nine SNPs were detected. IGF1 SNP c.47673G?>?A was associated with body weight and haematocrit percentage, and also with feed intake and percentages of abdominal fat and gizzard genotype × sex interactions. KDM5A SNP c.34208C?>?T genotype × sex interaction affected body weight, feed intake, percentages of abdominal fat (p?=?0.0001), carcass, gizzard and haematocrit. A strong association of the diplotype × sex interaction (p?<?0.0001) with abdominal fat was observed, and also associations with body weight, feed intake, percentages of carcass, drums and thighs, gizzard and haematocrit. Our findings suggest that the KDM5A gene might play an important role in the abdominal fat deposition in chickens. The IGF1 and KDM5A genes are strong candidates to explain the QTL mapped in this region of GGA1.     

Polymorphism of 5′ regulatory region of ovine FSHR gene and its association with litter size in Small Tail Han sheep

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of 5?? regulatory region of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) gene were detected in two high prolificacy sheep breeds (Small Tail Han and Hu sheep) and two low prolificacy sheep breeds (Corriedale and Chinese Merino sheep) by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP). The results indicated that there were three genotypes (AA, AB and BB) detected by primer 1 in Hu sheep while only one genotype (AA) in other three sheep breeds, and frequencies of AA, AB and BB genotypes in Hu sheep were 0.700, 0.225 and 0.075, respectively. There were three genotypes (EE, EF and EG) detected by primer 3 in Small Tail Han sheep while only EE genotype occurred in other three sheep breeds, and frequencies of EE, EF and EG genotypes in Small Tail Han sheep were 0.775, 0.200 and 0.025, respectively. No polymorphism was detected in four sheep breeds by primer 2 and primer 4. The sequencing results showed that there were two nucleotide mutations (g. ?681T>C and g. ?629C>T) in genotype BB compared with AA for primer 1. As for primer 3, two mutations (g. ?197G>A and g. ?98T>C) in genotype EF compared with EE and two mutations (g. ?200G>A and g. ?197G>A) in genotype EG compared with EE. The heterozygous ewes with EG or EF had 0.89 (P?<?0.05) or 0.42 (P?<?0.05) lambs more than homozygous ewes (EE genotype) in Small Tail Han sheep, respectively, while there was no significant difference on litter size between EG and EF ewes.     

Common variants of the liver fatty acid binding protein gene influence the risk of type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance in Spanish population

Summary

The main objective was to evaluate the association between SNPs and haplotypes of the FABP1-4 genes and type 2 diabetes, as well as its interaction with fat intake, in one general Spanish population. The association was replicated in a second population in which HOMA index was also evaluated.

Methods

1217 unrelated individuals were selected from a population-based study [Hortega study: 605 women; mean age 54 y; 7.8% with type 2 diabetes]. The replication population included 805 subjects from Segovia, a neighboring region of Spain (446 females; mean age 52 y; 10.3% with type 2 diabetes). DM2 mellitus was defined in a similar way in both studies. Fifteen SNPs previously associated with metabolic traits or with potential influence in the gene expression within the FABP1-4 genes were genotyped with SNPlex and tested. Age, sex and BMI were used as covariates in the logistic regression model.

Results

One polymorphism (rs2197076) and two haplotypes of the FABP-1 showed a strong association with the risk of DM2 in the original population. This association was further confirmed in the second population as well as in the pooled sample. None of the other analyzed variants in FABP2, FABP3 and FABP4 genes were associated. There was not a formal interaction between rs2197076 and fat intake. A significant association between the rs2197076 and the haplotypes of the FABP1 and HOMA-IR was also present in the replication population.

Conclusions

The study supports the role of common variants of the FABP-1 gene in the development of type 2 diabetes in Caucasians.     

New cardiac expression of two adenosine-2A receptor isoforms in dysfunctioning minipigs

Purpose: Eight A_2AR variants are reported in humans while no A_2AR isoforms in pigs. The aim of this study was to evaluate potential isoforms presence in cardiac pig tissue to better define possible involvement of A_2AR in the cardiovascular pathophysiology.

Materials and methods: In adult male minipigs (n?=?4) left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) was induced by pacing at 200 bpm in the right ventricular (RV) apex. In these animals and in sham operated pigs (C-SHAM, n?=?4) cardiac tissue was collected from LV-septal wall (LV-SW)-close to pacing site-and from lateral (opposite) site (LV-OSW). A_2AR specific primers, derived from Sus scrofa AY772412 sequence, were used for Real-Time PCR. The DNA was sequenced using the Sanger method. Histological analysis was also performed.

Results: In LV-SW of LVD minipigs the A_2AR melting curves were characterized by a sharp peak between 87 and 91?°C (short isoform, 1–94?bp) on the right of the principal peak corresponding to a long A_2AR isoform (GenBank: JQ229674.1) 1–213?bp. As for C-SHAM only one peak was observed in LV-OSW region of LVD animals. The short isoform had an alternative promoter region and a specific translated protein. Histology showed in LVD-LV-SW prominent Purkinje cells compared to LV-OSW and C-SHAM. No difference in A_2AR expression was observed between LVD animals and C-SHAM although a slight decrease was observed in LVD-LV-OSW.

Conclusions: The presence of two different isoforms in the myocardium close to the insertion of pacing is suggestive of a differential state-specific expression of A_2AR in cardiac tissue.     

Halplotypes of the ovine ADRB3 gene (ADRB3) and their association with post-weaning growth in New Zealand Suffolk sheep

The β₃-adrenergic receptor (ADRB3) regulates thermogenesis and lipolysis in brown and white adipose tissue. Previously, sixteen ovine ADRB3 haplotypes have been defined. In this study, the relationship between these ADRB3 haplotypes and variation in post-weaning growth was investigated in 797 New Zealand Suffolk lambs from 38 sire lines and eight studs, using PCR-SSCP and General Linear Mixed-effects Models. Seven haplotypes were found in these sheep and they comprised five previously reported intron sequences and four previously reported 3′UT sequences. The frequencies of the various diplotypes ranged from 0.1 to 17.6 % and individual haplotypes from 0.8 to 32.5 %. The presence of haplotype A-b was associated with a decreased weaning-weight (P = 0.001). Sheep with the B-c/F-e diplotype had a higher mean weaning-weight than those with A-b/B-c or A-b/E-e (P < 0.05). The presence of C-a was found to be associated with increased post-weaning growth (P = 0.008), while the presence of B-c was associated with decreased post-weaning growth (P = 0.005). Sheep with A-b/C-a had higher mean post-weaning growth than those with A-b/A-b, A-b/B-c, B-c/B-c, B-c/E-e or B-c/F-e (P < 0.05). Sheep with B-c/B-c had lower mean post-weaning growth than those with A-b/C-a or B-c/C-a (P < 0.05). Additive effects for the different forms of the B-c haplotypes on post-weaning growth were identified. The effects of the ovine ADRB3 haplotypes on weaning-weight and post-weaning growth confirm that they could be used as a candidate gene-marker for improving sheep growth.     

Circulating Adipocyte Fatty Acid Binding Protein (FABP4) Levels Are Associated with Irisin in the Middle-Aged General Chinese Population

Background

Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (FABP4) has been recently characterized as an adipokine that is closely associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. Irisin, a novel myokine, activates thermogenesis by increasing the transformation of white adipocytes to brown, and it has improved glucose homeostasis in animal models. In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between serum FABP4 and irisin in middle-aged Chinese subjects.

Methods

A total of 111 normal residents (56 men and 55 women) of Fengxian District who were 40 to 60 years of age were recruited. Circulating FABP4 and irisin were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Anthropometric parameters, oral glucose tolerance test results, hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), blood lipids, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, homeostasis model assessment-β and body fat composition were also determined.

Results

All participants were categorized by FABP4 tertiles. There were significant differences in blood pressure, body fat percentage, 2-h plasma glucose, and skeletal muscle mass among the three groups (P<0.05). Furthermore, FABP4 levels in the women were significantly higher than in the men (P<0.05). However, there was no sexual dimorphism in serum irisin (P>0.05). To exclude the effect of sex difference, partial correlations analysis showed that FABP4 was positively correlated with diastolic blood pressure (P<0.05) and body fat percentage (P<0.05) negatively correlated with skeletal muscle mass (P<0.05) and irisin (P<0.05), while irisin was positively correlated with HbA1c (P<0.05) and negatively correlated with creatinine (P<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that serum FABP4 was independently associated with skeletal muscle mass (P<0.001), diastolic blood pressure (P<0.05) and irisin (P<0.05) after adjustment for age, body mass index, body fat percentage, total cholesterol and HbA1C.

Conclusions

Elevated FABP4 levels increase the risks of obesity-related metabolic disorders and hypertension. Serum irisin might exert antagonistic effects on FABP4 in the middle-aged Chinese population.