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Multiple Genetic Associations with Irish Wolfhound Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Siobhan Simpson1, Mark D Dunning1, Serena Brownlie1
1Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, The University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK.
Insights
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in Irish Wolfhounds is influenced by multiple genetic factors. Combining three specific genetic loci identified a genotype significantly increasing DCM risk in this breed.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Genetics
- Canine Cardiology
- Complex Trait Genetics
Background:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a major cause of death in Irish Wolfhounds (IWH).
- While human DCM has many identified genes, few overlap with canine DCM, and existing canine loci don't explain all cases.
- Previous research suggests multiple genetic loci may interact to influence DCM development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the individual and combined associations of previously identified DCM-related genetic loci in a new cohort of IWH.
- To determine if specific genotypes or combinations of genotypes increase DCM risk in IWH.
Main Methods:
- Genotyping of loci previously associated with DCM in IWH.
- Association analysis of individual loci and combinations of loci with DCM status.
- Comparison of genotype-specific risk with population risk.
Main Results:
- Several loci showed individual significant associations with DCM.
- No single locus or pair of loci conferred a significantly higher risk than the population average.
- A specific genotype combining three loci significantly increased the risk of developing DCM.
Conclusions:
- DCM risk in IWH is likely influenced by the cooperative effect of multiple genetic factors rather than single genes.
- Identifying complex genotype interactions is crucial for understanding DCM heritability in IWH.
- This study highlights the importance of multi-locus analysis for canine DCM genetics.
Abstract:
Cardiac disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in dogs and humans, with dilated cardiomyopathy being a large contributor to this. The Irish Wolfhound (IWH) is one of the most commonly affected breeds and one of the few breeds with genetic loci associated with the disease. Mutations in more than 50 genes are associated with human dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), yet very few are also associated with canine DCM. Furthermore, none of the identified canine loci explain many cases of the disease and previous work has indicated that genotypes at multiple loci may act together to influence disease development. In this study, loci previously associated with DCM in IWH were tested for associations in a new cohort both individually and in combination. We have identified loci significantly associated with the disease individually, but no genotypes individually or in pairs conferred a significantly greater risk of developing DCM than the population risk. However combining three loci together did result in the identification of a genotype which conferred a greater risk of disease than the overall population risk. This study suggests multiple rather than individual genetic factors, cooperating to influence DCM risk in IWH.
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