Effects of a Forebrain Embryonic Zinc Finger-Like p.Gly105(12_13) polymorphism on mastitis resistance: an embryo-transfer study

Abstract

Background: Mastitis is a common infectious disease of the mammary gland and a major problem in the dairy industry. When cows affect mastitis, the number of somatic cells in their milk increases. It was reported that forebrain embryonic zinc finger-like (FEZL) encoding a stretch of 12 glycines (p.Gly105[12]) instead of 13 glycines (p.Gly105[13]) is associated with a lower somatic cell count, implicating the correlation between FEZL and mastitis resistance. Findings: To evaluate the impact of FEZL on mastitis incidence, a family with FEZL p.Gly105(12_13) polymorphism was generated via an embryo-transfer procedure. First embryos were recovered from cows inseminated with bulls homozygous for p.Gly105[12] and determined their sex. Based on transferring female embryos into recipient cows, 7 cows carrying the homozygous p.Gly105[12] and 5 cows carrying p.Gly105[12] and p.Gly105[13] were produced. These 12 cows with 15 cows of the same age and carrying the homozygous p.Gly105[13] were raised in the same station. After their deliveries via artificial insemination, milk yield and clinical mastitis were recorded during their first lactation period. Incidence of clinical mastitis was observed among cows carrying p.Gly105[12] significantly less than cows carrying the homozygous p.Gly105[13]. Moreover, affected cows carrying the homozygous p.Gly105[13] produced less milk with higher conductance than affected cows carrying p.Gly105[12], suggesting that cows carrying the homozygous p.Gly105[13] might suffer severer infection than cows carrying p.Gly105[12] because of their impaired immune response. Conclusions: The impact of FEZL on mastitis resistance was confirmed in a family with FEZL p.Gly105(12_13) polymorphism generated via an embryo-transfer procedure. Selection of cows carrying p.Gly105[12] could be beneficial in the dairy industry by reducing the incidence of mastitis.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms, Gene Expression and Economic Evaluation of Parameters Associated with Mastitis Susceptibility in European Cattle Breeds

“…Solute Carrier Family 11 Member 1 (SLC11A1) is a trans-membrane protein and was reported to be one of the best-known potential candidate genes that promote innate im-munity against intracellular pathogens [66]. Forebrain embryonic zinc finger-like gene (FEZL) was identified as a QTL influencing mastitis resistance [67]; it also has an immune function, as it plays an important antimicrobial role by controlling the neutrophilic migration to the site of mammary gland infection [68]. Semaphorine 5A (SEMA5A) is one of the target genes of FEZL and is represented as an extensive family of widely expressed secreted and membrane-associated proteins [69].…”

Association of genetic variants of Forebrain Embryonic Zinc Finger-like (FEZL) gene exon 3 with clinical mastitis in Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

“…Odds Ratio analysis revealed strong association (OR=6.851, 95% CI=2.665-17.619) indicating that animals with CC genotype are at higher risk for mastitis, while those with TT genotype exhibit least susceptibility to the disease (Table 4). There are no reports regarding association with FEZL genotypes with mastitis in buffaloes, however, Sugimoto et al (2006;2013) reported significant association of 12G/13G polymorphism with SCC and mastitis in Japanese cattle. Ali et al (2019) reported significant association of CC genotype having highest mean somatic cell counts (674.92±48.1) compared to AB genotypes (226.16±4.9) with susceptibility to mastitis in Egyptian Holstein cattle, allele B was least frequent in mastitic animals, and allele C had the least frequency in normal animals.…”

Sequence Characterization of Forebrain Embryonic Zinc Finger-like (FEZL) Gene in Indian Zebu (Bos indicus) Cattle and their Crossbreds

“…This additional Glycine residue i.e. 13G stretch has been reported to be associated with higher somatic cell score as compared to 12G in case of Holstein Friesian cattle (Sugimoto et al, 2006(Sugimoto et al, , 2011(Sugimoto et al, , 2013Ali et al, 2019). Association of FEZL allelic variant with higher somatic cell score and consequently susceptibility/resistance to mastitis in cattle is interesting.…”

“…It has already been established that there exists a crosstalk between neuronal development and immunity via downstream cytokine expression (Wu et al, 2001). Sugimoto et al (2006Sugimoto et al ( , 2011Sugimoto et al ( , 2013 reported single glycine insertion into the glycine stretch of FEZL has large effect on its downstream pathway which makes the cows susceptible to mastitis. However, very little information is available on FEZL gene in Bos indicus cattle and their crossbreds.…”