Expression quantitative trait loci associated with performance traits, blood biochemical parameters, and cytokine profile in pigs

Identifying expression Quantitative Trait Loci (eQTL) and functional candidate variants associated with blood biochemical parameters can contribute to the understanding of genetic mechanisms underlying phenotypic variation in complex traits in pigs. We identified eQTLs through gene expression levels...

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Main Authors: Felipe André Oliveira Freitas, Luiz F. Brito, Bárbara Silva-Vignato, Fernanda Nery Ciconello, Vivian Vezzoni de Almeida, Aline Silva Mello Cesar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Genetics
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2025.1533424/full
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author Felipe André Oliveira Freitas
Felipe André Oliveira Freitas
Luiz F. Brito
Bárbara Silva-Vignato
Fernanda Nery Ciconello
Vivian Vezzoni de Almeida
Aline Silva Mello Cesar
author_facet Felipe André Oliveira Freitas
Felipe André Oliveira Freitas
Luiz F. Brito
Bárbara Silva-Vignato
Fernanda Nery Ciconello
Vivian Vezzoni de Almeida
Aline Silva Mello Cesar
author_sort Felipe André Oliveira Freitas
collection DOAJ
description Identifying expression Quantitative Trait Loci (eQTL) and functional candidate variants associated with blood biochemical parameters can contribute to the understanding of genetic mechanisms underlying phenotypic variation in complex traits in pigs. We identified eQTLs through gene expression levels in muscle and liver tissues of Large White pigs. The identified eQTL were then tested for association with biochemical parameters, cytokine profiles, and performance traits of pigs. A total of 41,759 SNPs and 15,093 and 15,516 expression gene levels from muscle and liver tissues, respectively, enabled the identification of 1,199 eQTL. The eQTL identified related the SNP rs345667860 as significantly associated with interleukin-6 and interleukin-18 in liver tissue, while the rs695637860 SNP was associated with aspartate aminotransferase and interleukin-6, and rs337362164 was associated with high-density lipoprotein of the blood serum. In conclusion, the identification of three eQTL significantly associated with aspartate aminotransferase and cytokine levels in both serum and liver tissues suggests a potential role for these variants in modulating immune function and overall health in production pigs. Further research is needed to validate these findings and explore their potential for improving pig health and productivity.
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spelling doaj-art-51ce3a771e9e41bc858c7c13de6fc09f2025-08-20T03:15:30ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Genetics1664-80212025-03-011610.3389/fgene.2025.15334241533424Expression quantitative trait loci associated with performance traits, blood biochemical parameters, and cytokine profile in pigsFelipe André Oliveira Freitas0Felipe André Oliveira Freitas1Luiz F. Brito2Bárbara Silva-Vignato3Fernanda Nery Ciconello4Vivian Vezzoni de Almeida5Aline Silva Mello Cesar6Department of Food Science and Technology, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, BrazilDepartment of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United StatesDepartment of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United StatesDepartment of Food Science and Technology, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, BrazilDepartment of Food Science and Technology, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, BrazilDepartment of Animal Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, BrazilDepartment of Food Science and Technology, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, BrazilIdentifying expression Quantitative Trait Loci (eQTL) and functional candidate variants associated with blood biochemical parameters can contribute to the understanding of genetic mechanisms underlying phenotypic variation in complex traits in pigs. We identified eQTLs through gene expression levels in muscle and liver tissues of Large White pigs. The identified eQTL were then tested for association with biochemical parameters, cytokine profiles, and performance traits of pigs. A total of 41,759 SNPs and 15,093 and 15,516 expression gene levels from muscle and liver tissues, respectively, enabled the identification of 1,199 eQTL. The eQTL identified related the SNP rs345667860 as significantly associated with interleukin-6 and interleukin-18 in liver tissue, while the rs695637860 SNP was associated with aspartate aminotransferase and interleukin-6, and rs337362164 was associated with high-density lipoprotein of the blood serum. In conclusion, the identification of three eQTL significantly associated with aspartate aminotransferase and cytokine levels in both serum and liver tissues suggests a potential role for these variants in modulating immune function and overall health in production pigs. Further research is needed to validate these findings and explore their potential for improving pig health and productivity.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2025.1533424/fullgene expressioninflammatory processeQTLpigGWASswine
spellingShingle Felipe André Oliveira Freitas
Felipe André Oliveira Freitas
Luiz F. Brito
Bárbara Silva-Vignato
Fernanda Nery Ciconello
Vivian Vezzoni de Almeida
Aline Silva Mello Cesar
Expression quantitative trait loci associated with performance traits, blood biochemical parameters, and cytokine profile in pigs
Frontiers in Genetics
gene expression
inflammatory process
eQTL
pig
GWAS
swine
title Expression quantitative trait loci associated with performance traits, blood biochemical parameters, and cytokine profile in pigs
title_full Expression quantitative trait loci associated with performance traits, blood biochemical parameters, and cytokine profile in pigs
title_fullStr Expression quantitative trait loci associated with performance traits, blood biochemical parameters, and cytokine profile in pigs
title_full_unstemmed Expression quantitative trait loci associated with performance traits, blood biochemical parameters, and cytokine profile in pigs
title_short Expression quantitative trait loci associated with performance traits, blood biochemical parameters, and cytokine profile in pigs
title_sort expression quantitative trait loci associated with performance traits blood biochemical parameters and cytokine profile in pigs
topic gene expression
inflammatory process
eQTL
pig
GWAS
swine
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2025.1533424/full
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