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Longitudinal changes in telomere length and associated genetic parameters in dairy cattle analysed using random
Luise A Seeker1,2, Joanna J Ilska1, Androniki Psifidi2,3
1Animal & Veterinary Sciences, SRUC, Easter Bush, Midlothian, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|February 14, 2018
Summary
Telomere length (TL) shortens with age, but individual changes in bovine relative leukocyte TL (RLTL) are heritable and genetically distinct over time. These RLTL profile differences did not correlate with productive lifespan in Holstein Friesian cattle.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Animal Science
- Aging Research
Background:
- Telomeres (TL) protect chromosome ends and shorten with age, with shorter lengths linked to morbidity and mortality in humans.
- Focus is shifting to understanding individual TL change over time, as attrition rate may predict disease.
- Bovine relative leukocyte telomere length (RLTL) is a relevant biomarker for aging and health in cattle.
Purpose of the Study:
- Characterize lifetime changes in bovine RLTL in Holstein Friesian dairy cattle.
- Estimate genetic parameters of RLTL dynamics over time.
- Investigate associations between individual RLTL profiles and productive lifespan.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Legendre polynomials in a random regression model to analyze 1,328 repeated RLTL measurements from 308 cattle.
- Fitted quadratic Legendre polynomials to age (months) for fixed and random effects.
- Calculated and illustrated changes in RLTL, heritability, and genetic correlations across the age trajectory.
Main Results:
- Population-level RLTL exhibited a positive quadratic relationship with age.
- Significant individual variation in RLTL change direction and magnitude was observed.
- Heritability of RLTL remained stable (0.36-0.47) over time, while genetic correlations indicated potential age-specific genetic regulation.
- Individual RLTL profile differences were not associated with productive lifespan (p=0.954).
Conclusions:
- Bovine RLTL exhibits significant, heritable individual variation throughout life.
- Genetic factors influencing early-life RLTL may differ from those in later life.
- Observed RLTL profile variations do not predict productive lifespan in this cohort.
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