• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.321-326
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• 2016

The porcine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is called swine leukocyte antigen (SLA), which controls immune responses and transplantation reactions. The SLA is mapped on pig chromosome 7 (SSC7) near the centromere. In this study, 3 class I (SLA-1, SLA-3, and SLA-2) and 3 class II (DRB1, DQB1, and DQA) genes were used for investigation of SLA haplotypes in Yucatan miniature pigs in Korea. This pig breed is a well-known model organism for biomedical research worldwide. The current study indicated that Korean Yucatan pig population had 3 Class I haplotypes (Lr-4.0, Lr-6.0, and Lr-25.0) and 3 class II haplotypes (Lr-0.5, Lr-0.7, and Lr-0.25). The combinations of SLA class I and II haplotype together, 2 homozygous (Lr-4.5/4.5 and Lr-6.7/6.7) and 3 heterozygous (Lr-4.5/6.7, Lr-4.5/25.25, and Lr-6.7/25.25) haplotypes were identified, including previously unidentified new heterozygous haplotypes (Lr-4.5/4.7). In addition, a new SLA allele typing method using Agilent 2100 bioanalyzer was developed that permitted more rapid identification of SLA haplotypes. These results will facilitate the breeding of SLA homozygous Yucatan pigs and will expedite the possible use of these pigs for the biomedical research, especially xenotransplantation research.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.1757-1765
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• 2021

Objective: The swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) gene group, which is closely linked and highly polymorphic, has important biomedical significance in the protection and utilization of germplasm resources. However, genetic polymorphism analyses of SLA microsatellite markers in Chinese miniature pigs are limited. Methods: Eighteen pairs of microsatellite primers were used to amplify the SLA regions of seven miniature pig breeds and three wild boar breeds (n = 346) from different regions of China. The indexes of genetic polymorphism, including expected heterozygosity (He), polymorphic information content (PIC), and haplotype, were analyzed. The genetic differentiation coefficient (Fst) and neighbor-joining methods were used for cluster analysis of the breeds. Results: In miniature pigs, the SLA I region had the highest numbers of polymorphisms, followed by the SLA II and SLA III regions; the region near the centromere had the lowest number of polymorphisms. Among the seven miniature pig breeds, Diannan small-ear pigs had the highest genetic diversity (PIC value = 0.6396), whereas the genetic diversity of the Hebao pig was the lowest (PIC value = 0.4330). The Fst values in the Mingguang small-ear, Diannan small-ear, and Yunnan wild boars were less than 0.05. According to phylogenetic cluster analysis, the South-China-type miniature pigs clustered into one group, among which Mingguang small-ear pigs clustered with Diannan small-ear pigs. Haplotype analysis revealed that the SLA I, II, and III regions could be constructed into 13, 7, and 11 common haplotypes, respectively. Conclusion: This study validates the high genetic diversity of the Chinese miniature pig. Mingguang small-ear pigs have close kinship with Diannan small-ear pigs, implying that they may have similar genetic backgrounds and originate from the same population. This study also provides a foundation for genetic breeding, genetic resource protection, and classification of Chinese miniature pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.1228-1235
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• 2014

The swine leukocyte antigen (SLA)-DRA locus is noteworthy among other SLA class II loci for its limited variation and has not been investigated in depth. This study was investigated to detect polymorphisms of four exons of SLA-DRA gene and its association with piglet diarrhea in Landrace, Large White and Duroc pigs. No polymorphisms were detected in exon 3, while 2 SNPs (c.178G>A and c.211T>C), 2 SNPs (c.3093A>C and c.3104C>T) and 5 SNPs (c.4167A>G, c.4184A>G, c.4194A>G, c.4246A>G and c.4293G>A) were detected in exon 1, exon 2 and exon 4 respectively, and 1 SNP (c.4081T>C) in intron 3. Statistical results showed that genotype had significant effect on piglet diarrhea, individuals with genotype BC had a higher diarrhea score when compared with the genotypes AA, AB, AC and CC. Futhermore, genotype AC had a higher diarrhea score than the genotype CC in exon 1 (p<0.05); diarrhea scores of genotype AA and BB were higher than those of genotypes AC and CC in exon 2 (p<0.05); individuals with genotype AA had a higher diarrhea score than individuals with genotype AB and BB in exon 4 (p<0.05). Fourteen common haplotypes were founded by haplotype constructing of all SNPs in the three exons, its association with piglet diarrhea appeared that Hap2, 5, 8, 10, and 14 may be the susceptible haplotypes and Hap9 may be the resistant haplotype to piglet diarrhea. The genetic variations identified of the SLA-DRA gene may potentially be functional mutations related to piglet diarrhea.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2009

Xenotransplantation of pig organs into humans is a potential solution for the shortage of donor organs for transplantation. However, multiple immune barriers preclude its clinical application. In particular, the initial type of rejection in xenotransplantation is an acute cellular rejection by host $CD8^+$ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) cells that react to donor major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I. The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) glycoprotein Unique Short (US) 2 specifically targets MHC class I heavy chains to relocate them from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane to the cytosol, where they are degraded by the proteasome. In this study we transfected the US2 gene into minipig fetal fibroblasts and established four US2 clonal cell lines. The integration of US2 into transgenic fetal cells was confirmed using PCR and Southern blot assay. The reduction of Swine Leukocyte Antigen (SLA)-I by US2 was also detected using Flow cytometry assay (FACS). The FACS analysis of the US2 clonal cell lines demonstrated a substantial reduction in SLA-I surface expression. The level (44% to 76%) of SLA-I expression in US2 clonal cell lines was decreased relative to the control. In cytotoxicity assay the rate of $CD8^+$ T cell-mediated cytotoxicity was significantly reduced to 23.8${\pm}$15.1% compared to the control (59.8${\pm}$8.4%, p<0.05). In conclusion, US2 can directly protect against $CD8^+$-mediated cell lysis. These results indicate that the expression of US2 in pig cells may provide a new approach to overcome the CTL-mediated immune rejection in xenotransplantation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.163-166
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• 2018

Objective: Microminipigs are a novel animal model with extensive applications in laboratory studies owing, in part, to their extremely small body sizes. In this study, the relationship between swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) class II haplotype and body weight was evaluated in the Microminipig population. Methods: A total of 1,900 haplotypes, covering SLA class II haplotypes Lr-0.7, Lr-0.23, Lr-0.17, Lr-0.37, Lr-0.16, Lr-0.11, Lr-0.13, and Lr-0.18, were analyzed in 950 piglets. Birth weights and weights on postnatal day 50 were examined in piglets with eight different SLA class II haplotypes. Results: The mean birth weight of piglets with the Lr-0.23 haplotype (0.415 kg, n = 702) was significantly lower than that of piglets with Lr-0.17 (0.445 kg, n = 328) and Lr-0.37 (0.438 kg, n = 383) haplotypes. At postnatal day 50, the mean body weight of piglets with the Lr-0.23 haplotype (3.14 kg) was significantly lower than that of piglets with the Lr-0.13 haplotype (3.46 kg, p<0.01). There were no significant differences in daily gains (DGs) among the eight haplotypes. However, piglets with the Lr-0.11 and -0.18 haplotype combination or any heterozygous haplotype combinations containing Lr-0.23 had significantly lower DGs than those of piglets with the Lr-0.18, 0.37 haplotype combination. Conclusion: Piglets with the Lr-0.23 haplotype had relatively low body weights at birth and on postnatal day 50 and slightly lower DGs than those of piglets with other haplotypes. Therefore, the Lr-0.23 SLA class II haplotype may be a suitable marker for the selective breeding of Microminipigs with small body sizes.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.1749-1756
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• 2021

Objective: Microminipig (MMP) is a miniature pig with an extra small body size for experimental use. In the present study, the occurrence of stillbirths and their genetic association with swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) class II haplotypes were evaluated in a population of MMPs. Methods: The occurrences of stillbirth and genetic association with SLA class II haplotypes using 483 stillborn and 2,246 live piglets, and their parents were compared among the three groups of newborn piglet litters; an all stillborn (AS) group consisting of only stillborn piglet litters, a partial stillborn (PS) group consisting of stillborn and live piglet litters, and an all alive (AA) group consisting of only live piglet litters. Results: The incidence of stillborn piglets was 483/2,729 (17.7%). Distributions of litter sizes, numbers of stillborn piglets in a litter, parities, and gestation periods were distinct among the three groups. The frequencies of low resolution haplotype (Lr)-0.7 or Lr-0.23 were higher in the AS group than in the PS or AA groups. In sires, the frequency of Lr-0.7 associated with the AS group was significantly higher in the AS group than with the AA group. In dams, the frequency of Lr-0.23 was significantly higher in the AS group than in the PS or AA groups, whereas the frequency of Lr-0.7 was not significantly different. Conclusion: The incidence of stillborn piglets in MMPs appears to be higher than those in other pig breeds. Several traits related with stillbirths such as the number of stillborn piglets and parities of the AS group were different from those of the PS and AA groups. Specific SLA class II haplotypes were associated significantly with a high incidence of stillbirths and could be used as genetic markers to adopt breeding strategies to lower the rate of stillbirth in MMPs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.1065-1071
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• 2013

The swine leukocyte antigen class II molecules are possibly associated with the induction of protective immunity. The study described here was to investigate the relationship between polymorphisms in exon 2 of the swine DQA gene and piglet diarrhea. This study was carried out on 425 suckling piglets from three purebred pig strains (Large White, Landrace and Duroc). The genetic diversity of exon 2 in swine DQA was detected by PCR-SSCP and sequencing analysis, eight unique SSCP patterns (AB, BB, BC, CC, CD, BD, BE and DD) representing five specific allele (A to E) sequences were detected. Sequence analysis revealed 21 nucleotide variable sites and resulting in 12 amino acid substitutions in the populations. A moderate level polymorphism and significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium of the genotypes distribution were observed in the populations (p<0.01). The association analysis indicated that there was a statistically significant difference in the score of piglet diarrhea between different genotypes, individuals with genotype CC showed a lower diarrhea score than genotypes AB ($0.98{\pm}0.09$), BB ($0.85{\pm}0.77$) and BC ($1.25{\pm}0.23$) (p<0.05), and significantly low than genotype BE ($1.19{\pm}0.19$) (p<0.01), CC genotype may be a most resistance genotype for piglet diarrhea.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.451-457
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• 2010

The porcine MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex), encoding the SLA (Swine Leukocyte Antigen) genes, is one of the most significant regions associated with immune rejection in relation to transplantation. In this study, three SLA class I (SLA-1, SLA-3, SLA-2) loci and three SLA class II (DRB1, DQB1, DQA) loci were investigated in the previously unidentified Korean native pig (KNP) population that was closely inbred in the Livestock Technology Research Station in Cheongyang, Korea. Total thirteen KNPs from four generations were genotyped for the SLA alleles and haplotypes were investigated using PCR-SSP (Sequence-Specific Primer) method. The results showed that all of these KNPs had Lr-56.30/56.30 homozygous haplotype, indicating high level of inbreeding in the SLA genes. The inbreeding status of these animals was also investigated using microsatellite (MS) markers. From the 50 MS markers investigated, 17 MS markers were fixed in all generations and the fixed alleles are increased as 26 loci for the fourth generation. Two MS markers, S0069 and SW173, were heterozygous for all the animals tested. Observed and expected heterozygosities were calculated and the average inbreeding coefficients for each generation were also calculated. In the fourth generation, the average inbreeding coefficients was 0.732 and this may increase with further inbreeding process. Analysis of the SLA haplotypes and MS alleles can give important information for breeding the pigs for xenotransplantation studies.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2013

In order to investigate genetic stability and gene expression profile after cloning procedure, two groups of cloned pigs were used for swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) gene nucleotide alteration and microarray analyses. Each group was consist of cloned pigs derived from same cell line (n=3 and 4, respectively). Six SLA loci were analyzed for cDNA sequences and protein translations. In total, 16 SLA alleles were identified and there were no evidence of SLA nucleotide alteration. All SLA sequences and protein translations were identical among the each pig in the same group. On the other hand, microarray assay was performed for profiling gene expression of the cloned pigs. In total, 43,603 genes were analyzed and 2,150~4,300 reliably hybridized spots on the each chip were selected for further analysis. Even though the cloned pigs in the same group had identical genetic background, 18.6~47.3% of analyzed genes were differentially expressed in between each cloned pigs. Furthermore, on gene clustering analysis, some cloned pigs showed abnormal physiological phenotypes such as inflammation, cancer or cardiomyopathy. We assumed that individual environmental adaption, sociality and rank in the pen might have induced these different phenotypes. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that SLA locus genes appear to be stable following SCNT. However, gene expressions and phenotypes between cloned pigs derived from the same cell line were not identical even under the same rearing conditions.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.753-762
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• 2008

The primers for RT-PCR and RACE-PCR were designed by aligning the pig genomic sequence and the human complement factor B(CFB) coding sequence(CDS) from the GenBank. Each PCR product was amplified in pig cDNA and sequencing was carried out. The CDS length of pig CFB gene was determined to be 2298 bp. In addition, the pig CDS was more longer than human and mouse orthologs because of insertion and deletion. The identities of porcine nucleotide sequences with those of human and mice were 84% and 80%, and the identities of amino acids were 79% to 77%, respectively. Three complement control protein(CCP) domains, one Von Willebrand factor A(VWFA) domain and a serine protease domain, that are revealed typically in mammals, were found in the pig CFB gene. Based on the CDSs determined, the primers were designed in intron regions for amplification of entire length of exons. In amplification and direct sequencing with genomic DNAs of six pig breeds, three cSNPs(coding single nucleotide polymorphisms) were identified and verified as missense mutations. Using the Multiplex-ARMS method, we genotyped and verified the mutations identified from direct sequencing. To demonstrate recrudescence, we performed both direct sequencing and Multiplex-ARMS with two randomly selected DNA samples. The genotype of each sample exhibited the same results using both methods. Therefore, three cSNPs were identified from pig CFB gene and that can be used for haplotype analysis of the swine leukocyte antigen(SLA) class III region. Moreover, the results indicate that the Multiplex-ARMS method should be powerful for genotyping of genes in the SLA region.