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Title: Expression of cytokine genes and receptors in white blood cells associated with divergent body weight gain in beef steers

Author
item Lindholm-Perry, Amanda
item ARTEGOITIA, VIRGINIA - University Of Nebraska
item Miles, Jeremy
item Foote, Andrew

Submitted to: AGRI GENE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/25/2017
Publication Date: 9/28/2017
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5842603
Citation: Lindholm-Perry, A.K., Artegoitia, V.M., Miles, J.R., Foote, A.P. 2017. Expression of cytokine genes and receptors in white blood cells associated with divergent body weight gain in beef steers. AGRI GENE. 6:37-39.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aggene.2017.09.005.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aggene.2017.09.005

Interpretive Summary: Previous work examining the expression of genes in steer tissue samples with divergent body weight gain has shown a relationship with the expression of genes with functions in immune and inflammatory pathways. Cytokines are produced by immune cells to assist cellular communication of immune responses and promote cell movement towards sites of inflammation and infection. The purpose of this study was to determine whether changes in cytokine expression in the white blood cells in blood also had relationships with body weight gain in cattle. Crossbred steers (n=12) with average feed intake, but divergent body weight gain, were selected for the study. The expression of 84 cytokine genes was measured. The genes CCR3, IL9R, PF4, NAMPT and TNF were associated with gain (P = 0.05); and CSF1, IL2RG, IL6ST, CCL3, and TNFSF13B displayed a trend towards association with gain (P < 0.1). The expression of cytokine genes in circulating WBCs may be useful indicators of production traits in cattle.

Technical Abstract: Previous work examining the transcriptome of steer tissue samples from animals with divergent gain have shown a relationship with the expression of genes with functions in immune and inflammatory pathways. The process of mounting an immune or inflammatory response is energetically expensive and variation in cytokine responses may affect cattle production traits. In addition, a previous study has identified variation in the transcript abundance of numerous genes, including the cytokine gene IL6ST, in the circulating white blood cells of pigs associated with high and low residual feed intake (RFI) lines. The aim of this study was to determine whether changes in cytokine expression in the circulating white blood cells (WBC) could also be associated with body weight gain in beef steers. Crossbred steers (n =12) with average feed intake (10.9 kg/d), but divergent body weight gain (Low = 1.92 kg/d; High = 2.25 kg/d), were selected for the study. The genes CCR3, IL9R, PF4, NAMPT and TNF were associated with gain (P<=0.05); and CSF1, IL2RG, IL6ST, CCL3, and TNFSF13B displayed a trend towards association with gain (P < 0.1). The expression of cytokine genes in circulating WBCs may be useful indicators of production traits in cattle.