Association of IL-4 and IL-4R Polymorphisms with Litter Size Traits in Pigs

Abstract

The interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4R) are cytokines that are involved in the immune and reproductive systems. This study aimed to verify the polymorphisms in the porcine IL-4 and IL-4R genes and to assess their effects on litter size traits in commercial pigs. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the porcine IL-4 and IL-4R genes were genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. A non-coding SNP of IL-4 g.134993898T > C and a non-synonymous SNP of IL-4R c.1577A > T (amino acid change at position 526, Q526L) were found to be segregating in Landrace sows. The IL-4 g.134993898T > C polymorphism was significantly associated with the number of piglets weaned alive (NWA) trait. The IL-4R c.1577A > T polymorphism was significantly associated with the number born alive (NBA) and NWA traits. Moreover, the accumulation of favorable alleles of these two SNP markers revealed significant associations with the NBA, NWA, and mean weight of piglets at weaning (MWW) traits. These findings indicate that the porcine IL-4 and IL-4R genes may contribute to the reproductive traits of pigs and could be used as candidate genes to improve litter size traits in the pig breeding industry.

Association of FTH and EPOR gene polymorphisms with litter size traits in pigs

“…There is an important procedure to accumulate identified genes from multiple parents into a superior genotype of the breeding stock (pyramiding approach) to establish an elite breeding stock with high prolificacy traits in pigs. Therefore, analysis of the effects of accumulated favorable alleles on litter size traits is required (Norseeda et al, 2021d). In this study, the association of accumulated favorable alleles of the porcine FTH g.9537834G > A, FTH g.9537855T > C, and EPOR g.70066473C > T loci had effects on litter size traits in pigs.…”

Heterozygosity and homozygosity regions affect reproductive success and the loss of reproduction: A case study with litter traits in pigs

“…Improving total number born ( TNB ) and number born alive ( NBA ) traits are of great interest as enhancing the economic profit, and become the main breeding goals in the modern pig industry [1] , [3] . Meanwhile, sow reproductive performances are limited by embryonic mortality and fetal losses during the pregnancy period [4] . Recently, the genetic mechanisms of the loss of reproduction have gradually received attention, and a few studies have explored underlying genetic architecture of the number of piglets born dead traits in pigs [3] , [5] , [6] .…”