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Genetic control of resistance to Marek's disease

B M Longenecker, W M Gallatin

    IARC Scientific Publications
    |January 1, 1978
    PubMed

    Insights

    The RPL-1 tumor cell line can identify Marek's disease (MD) resistance linked to the B21 allele in chickens. This marker is specific to B-allele resistance, not other genetic factors, and females show higher susceptibility.

    Area of Science:

    • * Avian immunology and genetics
    • * Tumor biology and cancer research

    Background:

    • * Marek's disease (MD) is a significant lymphoproliferative disease in chickens, posing economic challenges in poultry farming.
    • * Genetic resistance, particularly associated with specific B alleles like B21, plays a crucial role in controlling MD.
    • * Understanding the mechanisms of MD resistance is vital for developing effective control strategies.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • * To evaluate the RPL-1 tumor cell line as a potential in vitro and in vivo marker for MD resistance.
    • * To investigate the correlation between specific chicken B alleles (B21 and others) and susceptibility to RPL-1 tumor growth.
    • * To explore potential differences in resistance mechanisms associated with B-linked versus non-B-linked genetic loci.

    Main Methods:

    • * Challenging various MD-resistant and MD-susceptible chicken lines with the RPL-1 tumor cell line.
    • * Analyzing the growth of RPL-1 cells in chickens possessing different B alleles (B21, and others associated with susceptibility).
    • * Comparing RPL-1 tumor rejection capacity in chicken lines differing at non-B genetic loci.

    Main Results:

    • * Chickens with the B21 allele exhibited resistance to RPL-1 tumor growth, confirming its association with MD resistance.
    • * Chicken lines with B alleles linked to MD susceptibility were highly susceptible to RPL-1 tumor growth.
    • * No significant difference in RPL-1 rejection was observed between lines differing in non-B loci, suggesting distinct resistance mechanisms.
    • * Female chickens were more susceptible to RPL-1 challenge than males, with a notable predilection for tumor growth in the ovary.

    Conclusions:

    • * The RPL-1 cell line serves as a reliable marker for B21-associated MD resistance.
    • * B-linked and non-B-linked genetic factors appear to confer MD resistance through potentially different mechanisms.
    • * Sex and ovarian tissue may influence susceptibility to Marek's disease tumor development.

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