Polymorphism of the sixth component of complement (C6) in the dog

Area of Science:

• Canine genetics
• Immunogenetics
• Complement system biology

Background:

• The sixth component of complement (C6) is crucial for the innate immune system.
• Understanding genetic variations in complement components like C6 is vital for canine health and disease research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and characterize alleles of the C6 locus in dogs.
• To determine the inheritance pattern of identified C6 alleles.

Main Methods:

• Isoelectric focusing was employed to separate and identify different C6 protein variants.
• Family pedigrees were analyzed to trace the inheritance of specific alleles.

Main Results:

• Five distinct alleles were identified at the C6 locus in the dog population.
• Four alleles (C6(1), C6(2), C6(4), C6(5)) were confirmed to be inherited in a codominant autosomal manner.
• Alleles C6(1), C6(2), and C6(5) were found to be prevalent across various dog breeds, while C6(4) was less common.

Conclusions:

• The C6 locus in dogs exhibits significant allelic diversity.
• The identified codominant autosomal inheritance pattern of C6 alleles provides a basis for genetic mapping and breed-specific population studies.
• These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of canine immune system genetics.