Anti-apoptotic seminal vesicle protein IV inhibits cell-mediated immunity.

The in vitro effect of seminal vesicle protein IV (SV-IV) on the cytotoxic activity of human natural or acquired cellular immunity has been investigated by standard immunological procedures, a 51Cr-release cytotoxicity assay, and labeled-ligand binding experiments. The data obtained demonstrate that: (1) fluoresceinated or [125I]-labeled SV-IV binds specifically to the surface of human purified non-adherent monuclear cells (NA-MNC); (2)SV-IV suppresses the cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells against K562 target cells, that of IL-2-stimulated NK (LAK) cells against DAUDI target cells, and that of VEL antigen-sensitized cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) against VEL target cells; (3) treatment of K562 target cells alone with SV-IV decreases their susceptibility to NK-induced lysis. These findings indicate that the protein SV-IV has a marked in vitro inhibitory effect on NK, LAK and CTL cytotoxicity, providing a better understanding of its immune regulatory functions

Identificação de regiões genômicas selecionadas de forma divergente em equinos quarto de milha de corrida e trabalho

Caracterizada por sua grande versatilidade em várias modalidades equestres, a raça Quarto de Milha se destaca mundialmente, representando 52% de toda população equina no mundo. Dentro da raça há subdivisão em diferentes segmentos de aptidão, provenientes de distintos objetivos de seleção, consideradas linhagens, entre elas corrida e trabalho. Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar as diferenças morfológicas e genômicas que ocorrem entre as linhagens de corrida e trabalho como resultado da seleção para diferentes objetivos, a identificação de regiões genômicas que tenham sido alteradas pela seleção na formação da linhagem de corrida em relação à linhagem de trabalho e realizar dois estudos, independentes, de associação ampla do genoma (GWAS) para identificar regiões cromossômicas e genes candidatos posicionais associados com características de desempenho na linhagem de corrida e com características morfométricas na raça como um todo. Para as análises foram utilizados 120 animais de corrida e 64 animais de trabalho de ambos os sexos registrados na Associação Brasileira de Criadores de Cavalo Quarto de Milha. As características morfométricas avaliadas foram: peso, altura à cernelha, comprimentos corporal, da canela, da quartela, da garupa, da cabeça, e do pescoço, perímetros torácico, da canela e do casco e a característica de desempenho índice de velocidade. A análise das diferenças morfológicas foi realizada por meio do procedimento GLM do programa SAS utilizando-se modelo que incluiu os efeitos de sexo e linhagem e a covariável idade à mensuração. Para a análise das diferenças genômicas, 54.602 SNPs foram genotipados utilizando-se o painel de marcadores Illumina Equine SNP50 BeadChip. Os resultados obtidos revelaram mudanças significativas entre as linhagens para todas as características morfométricas avaliadas. Animais de corrida apresentaram maiores pesos, alturas, comprimentos ...Characterized by its versatility in several sporting activities, the Quarter Horse breed excels globally, representing 52% of the entire equine population in the world. The Quarter Horse breed is subdivided into different lines according to skills resulting from distinct selection objectives, including cutting and racing horses. The aims of the present study were to investigate the morphological and genomic difference, between cutting and racing lines as a result of selection for different objectives; identification of the genomic regions divergently selected in racing line in relation to cutting line and to perform two genome-wide association studies, independently, to identify chromosomal regions and positional candidate genes associated with performance trait in the racing line and morphometric traits in the breed as a whole. To perform the analyses 120 racing animals and 64 cutting animals of both sexes and registered at the Brazilian Association of Quarter Horse Breeders were used. The evaluated morphometric traits were: weight; height at withers; length of the body, shank, pastern, rump, head, and neck; circumference of the chest, shank, and hoof and speed index performance trait. Morphological differences analysis was performed using a model that included the fixed effects of sex and line, and age at recording as covariate. The GLM procedure of the SAS program was used for statistical analysis. To perform genomic differences analysis, 54,602 SNPs were genotyped by the Illumina Equine SNP50 BeadChip array. The results showed significant changes in the morphometric traits of the animals. Racing animals were heavier and taller and presented greater body lengths and perimeters than cutting horses. The number of informative SNPs and the SNP density found in the genome of cutting and racing animals suggest that the Equine SNP50 BeadChip can be used for different purposes in the Quarter Horse breed. To identify genomic regions ..

Morphological and Genomic Differences Between Cutting and Racing Lines of Quarter Horses

To investigate morphological and genomic differences between cutting and racing lines of Quarter Horses, 120 racing and 68 cutting animals of both sexes, registered at the Brazilian Association of Quarter Horse Breeders, were used. Blood samples were collected, and the following physical traits were measured: weight; height at withers; body length; length of the shank, pastern, rump, head, and neck; and chest, shank, and hoof circumference. For analysis of genomic differences, 54,602 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped using the Equine SNP50 BeadChip, and the quality of individual and SNP genotype data were evaluated. The fixation index, FST, was used to identify genome regions that were altered in the lines by selection. The results showed significant differences between the lines in all physical traits. Quality control led to the exclusion of four cutting animals with a call rate of <0.95. After filtering, 12,544, 13,815, and 13,370 SNPs were excluded for the whole population (n = 184), the 120 racing animals, and the 64 cutting animals, respectively. The number of informative polymorphisms detected in each line and in the whole population indicated that the Equine SNP50 BeadChip can be used in genetic studies of Quarter Horses. The fixation index, FST, identified 2,558 genome regions that may have been modified by divergent selection. © 2013 Elsevier Inc

Speed Index in the Racing Quarter Horse: A Genome-wide Association Study

The racing line of Quarter Horses is characterized by great sprinting speed over short distances on straight tracks. To perform selection on racing horses, the speed index (SI) and conformation traits are often used. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) on 112 racing Quarter Horses was performed for the SI trait, and markers and genes associated were reported. The GWAS was carried out using the Qxpak.5 software and the genotyping data obtained from the Equine SNP50 BeadChip. A total of eight significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (P < .0001; Q = 0.25) distributed on Equus caballus autosomal chromosomes 2, 4, 10, 18, and 27 were found and served as markers for genomic regions mined for candidate genes associated with SI. For candidate gene, annotation was considered 100 kb windows upstream and downstream to each important SNP. The highlighted genes were GRM8, GRIK2, NEB, ANK1, and KAT6A because their function could be related to racing performance. Future studies should consider a validation study with an independent population, and sequencing of these candidate genes should be done to identify causal alleles. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES