Identification of a mutation associated with fatal Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome in the Fell and Dales pony.

The Fell and Dales are rare native UK pony breeds at risk due to falling numbers, in-breeding, and inherited disease. Specifically, the lethal Mendelian recessive disease Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome (FIS), which manifests as B-lymphocyte immunodeficiency and progressive anemia, is a substantial t...

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Main Authors: Laura Y Fox-Clipsham, Stuart D Carter, Ian Goodhead, Neil Hall, Derek C Knottenbelt, Paul D F May, William E Ollier, June E Swinburne
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2011-07-01
Series:PLoS Genetics
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1002133&type=printable
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author Laura Y Fox-Clipsham
Stuart D Carter
Ian Goodhead
Neil Hall
Derek C Knottenbelt
Paul D F May
William E Ollier
June E Swinburne
author_facet Laura Y Fox-Clipsham
Stuart D Carter
Ian Goodhead
Neil Hall
Derek C Knottenbelt
Paul D F May
William E Ollier
June E Swinburne
author_sort Laura Y Fox-Clipsham
collection DOAJ
description The Fell and Dales are rare native UK pony breeds at risk due to falling numbers, in-breeding, and inherited disease. Specifically, the lethal Mendelian recessive disease Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome (FIS), which manifests as B-lymphocyte immunodeficiency and progressive anemia, is a substantial threat. A significant percentage (∼10%) of the Fell ponies born each year dies from FIS, compromising the long-term survival of this breed. Moreover, the likely spread of FIS into other breeds is of major concern. Indeed, FIS was identified in the Dales pony, a related breed, during the course of this work. Using a stepwise approach comprising linkage and homozygosity mapping followed by haplotype analysis, we mapped the mutation using 14 FIS-affected, 17 obligate carriers, and 10 adults of unknown carrier status to a ∼1 Mb region (29.8 - 30.8 Mb) on chromosome (ECA) 26. A subsequent genome-wide association study identified two SNPs on ECA26 that showed genome-wide significance after Bonferroni correction for multiple testing: BIEC2-692674 at 29.804 Mb and BIEC2-693138 at 32.19 Mb. The associated region spanned 2.6 Mb from ∼29.6 Mb to 32.2 Mb on ECA26. Re-sequencing of this region identified a mutation in the sodium/myo-inositol cotransporter gene (SLC5A3); this causes a P446L substitution in the protein. This gene plays a crucial role in the regulatory response to osmotic stress that is essential in many tissues including lymphoid tissues and during early embryonic development. We propose that the amino acid substitution we identify here alters the function of SLC5A3, leading to erythropoiesis failure and compromise of the immune system. FIS is of significant biological interest as it is unique and is caused by a gene not previously associated with a mammalian disease. Having identified the associated gene, we are now able to eradicate FIS from equine populations by informed selective breeding.
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spelling doaj-art-795c6b0468aa4fed8bdb7cc3267d593f2025-08-20T03:10:24ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Genetics1553-73901553-74042011-07-0177e100213310.1371/journal.pgen.1002133Identification of a mutation associated with fatal Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome in the Fell and Dales pony.Laura Y Fox-ClipshamStuart D CarterIan GoodheadNeil HallDerek C KnottenbeltPaul D F MayWilliam E OllierJune E SwinburneThe Fell and Dales are rare native UK pony breeds at risk due to falling numbers, in-breeding, and inherited disease. Specifically, the lethal Mendelian recessive disease Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome (FIS), which manifests as B-lymphocyte immunodeficiency and progressive anemia, is a substantial threat. A significant percentage (∼10%) of the Fell ponies born each year dies from FIS, compromising the long-term survival of this breed. Moreover, the likely spread of FIS into other breeds is of major concern. Indeed, FIS was identified in the Dales pony, a related breed, during the course of this work. Using a stepwise approach comprising linkage and homozygosity mapping followed by haplotype analysis, we mapped the mutation using 14 FIS-affected, 17 obligate carriers, and 10 adults of unknown carrier status to a ∼1 Mb region (29.8 - 30.8 Mb) on chromosome (ECA) 26. A subsequent genome-wide association study identified two SNPs on ECA26 that showed genome-wide significance after Bonferroni correction for multiple testing: BIEC2-692674 at 29.804 Mb and BIEC2-693138 at 32.19 Mb. The associated region spanned 2.6 Mb from ∼29.6 Mb to 32.2 Mb on ECA26. Re-sequencing of this region identified a mutation in the sodium/myo-inositol cotransporter gene (SLC5A3); this causes a P446L substitution in the protein. This gene plays a crucial role in the regulatory response to osmotic stress that is essential in many tissues including lymphoid tissues and during early embryonic development. We propose that the amino acid substitution we identify here alters the function of SLC5A3, leading to erythropoiesis failure and compromise of the immune system. FIS is of significant biological interest as it is unique and is caused by a gene not previously associated with a mammalian disease. Having identified the associated gene, we are now able to eradicate FIS from equine populations by informed selective breeding.https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1002133&type=printable
spellingShingle Laura Y Fox-Clipsham
Stuart D Carter
Ian Goodhead
Neil Hall
Derek C Knottenbelt
Paul D F May
William E Ollier
June E Swinburne
Identification of a mutation associated with fatal Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome in the Fell and Dales pony.
PLoS Genetics
title Identification of a mutation associated with fatal Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome in the Fell and Dales pony.
title_full Identification of a mutation associated with fatal Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome in the Fell and Dales pony.
title_fullStr Identification of a mutation associated with fatal Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome in the Fell and Dales pony.
title_full_unstemmed Identification of a mutation associated with fatal Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome in the Fell and Dales pony.
title_short Identification of a mutation associated with fatal Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome in the Fell and Dales pony.
title_sort identification of a mutation associated with fatal foal immunodeficiency syndrome in the fell and dales pony
url https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1002133&type=printable
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