Vascular dysfunction precedes hypertension associated with a blood pressure locus on rat chromosome 12

We previously isolated a 6.1-Mb region of SS/Mcwi (Dahl salt-sensitive) rat chromosome 12 (13.4–19.5 Mb) that significantly elevated blood pressure (BP) (Δ+34 mmHg, P < 0.001) compared with the SS-12BN consomic control. In the present study, we examined the role of vascular dysfunction and remodeling in hypertension risk associated with the 6.1-Mb (13.4–19.5 Mb) locus on rat chromosome 12 by reducing dietary salt, which lowered BP levels so that there were no substantial differences in BP between strains. Consequently, any observed differences in the vasculature were considered BP-independent. We also reduced the candidate region from 6.1 Mb with 133 genes to 2 Mb with 23 genes by congenic mapping. Both the 2 Mb and 6.1 Mb congenic intervals were associated with hypercontractility and decreased elasticity of resistance vasculature prior to elevations of BP, suggesting that the vascular remodeling and dysfunction likely contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension in these congenic models. Of the 23 genes within the narrowed congenic interval, 12 were differentially expressed between the resistance vasculature of the 2 Mb congenic and SS-12BN consomic strains. Among these, Grifin was consistently upregulated 2.7 ± 0.6-fold ( P < 0.05) and 2.0 ± 0.3-fold ( P < 0.01), and Chst12 was consistently downregulated −2.8 ± 0.3-fold ( P < 0.01) and −4.4 ± 0.4-fold ( P < 0.00001) in the 2 Mb congenic compared with SS-12BN consomic under normotensive and hypertensive conditions, respectively. A syntenic region on human chromosome 7 has also been associated with BP regulation, suggesting that identification of the genetic mechanism(s) underlying cardiovascular phenotypes in this congenic strain will likely be translated to a better understanding of human hypertension.

Identification of a genetic locus controlling bacteria-driven colitis and associated cancer through effects on innate inflammation

Chronic inflammation of the intestine has been associated with an elevated risk of developing colorectal cancer. Recent association studies have highlighted the role of genetic predisposition in the etiology of colitis and started to unravel its complexity. However, the genetic factors influencing the progression from colon inflammation to tumorigenesis are not known. We report the identification of a genetic interval Hiccs that regulates Helicobacter hepaticus–induced colitis and associated cancer susceptibility in a 129.RAG−/− mouse model. The 1.7-Mb congenic interval on chromosome 3, containing eight genes and five microRNAs, renders susceptible mice resistant to colitis and reduces tumor incidence and multiplicity. Bone marrow chimera experiments showed that resistance is conferred by the hematopoietic compartment. Moreover, the Hiccs locus controls the induction of the innate inflammatory response by regulating cytokine expression and granulocyte recruitment by Thy1+ innate lymphoid cells. Using a tumor-promoting model combining chronic Helicobacter hepaticus infection and the carcinogen azoxymethane, we found that Hiccs also regulates the frequency of colitis-associated neoplasia. Our study highlights the importance of innate immune cells and their genetic configuration in driving progression from inflammation toward cancer and opens the door for analysis of these pathways in human inflammatory disorders and associated cancers.

Congenic interval of CD45/Ly-5 congenic mice contains multiple genes that may influence hematopoietic stem cell engraftment

The B6.SJL-Ptprc(d)Pep3(b)/BoyJ (B6.SJL) congenic mouse strain, a valuable and widely used tool in murine bone marrow transplantation studies, has long been considered equivalent to the parental C57B/L6 (B6) strain with the exception of a small congenic interval on chromosome 1 harboring an alternative CD45/Ly-5 alloantigen (Ly-5.1). In this study we compared functional properties of stem and stromal cells between the strains, and delineated the boundary of the B6.SJL congenic interval. We identified a 25% reduction in homing efficiency, 3.8-fold reduction in transplantable long-term hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs), a 5-fold reduction in LT-HSCs capable of 24-hour homing, and a cell-intrinsic engraftment defect of 30% to 50% in B6.SJL-derived bone marrow cells relative to B6-derived cells. These functional differences were independent of stem cell number, cycling, or apoptosis. Genotypic analysis revealed a 42.1-mbp congenic interval in B6.SJL including 306 genes, and at least 124 genetic polymorphisms. Moreover, expression profiling revealed 288 genes differentially expressed between nonhematopoietic stromal cells of the 2 strains. These results indicate that polymorphisms between the B6 and SJL genotype within the B6.SJL congenic interval influence HSC engraftment and result in transcriptional variation within bone marrow stroma.

Genetic Dissection of SLE

Genetic dissection of lupus pathogenesis in the NZM2410 strain has recently revealed that Sle1 is a potent locus that triggers the formation of IgG anti-histone/DNA antibodies, when expressed on the B6 background as a congenic interval. B6.lpr mice, in contrast, exhibit distinctly different cellular and serological phenotypes. Both strains, however, do not usually exhibit pathogenic autoantibodies, or succumb to lupus nephritis. In this study, we show that the epistatic interaction of Sle1 (in particular, Sle1/Sle1) with FASlpr leads to massive lymphosplenomegaly (with elevated numbers of activated CD4 T cells, CD4−CD8− double negative (DN) T cells, and B1a cells), high levels of IgG and IgM antinuclear (including anti-ssDNA, anti-dsDNA, and anti-histone/DNA), and antiglomerular autoantibodies, histological, and clinical evidence of glomerulonephritis, and &gt;80% mortality by 5–6 mo of age. Whereas FASlpr functions as a recessive gene, Sle1 exhibits a gene dosage effect. These studies indicate that Sle1 and FASlpr must be impacting alternate pathways leading to lymphoproliferative autoimmunity.

Genetic analysis of modifying loci on mouse chromosome 1 that affect disease severity in a model of recessive PKD

Iakoubova, Olga, Holly Dushkin, Lisa Pacella, and David R. Beier. Genetic analysis of modifying loci on mouse chromosome 1 that affect disease severity in a model of recessive PKD. Physiol. Genomics: 101–105, 1999.—Using a cross between C57BL/6J and FVB/N mice, we have confirmed the localization on chromosome 1 of a modifying locus that affects the severity of polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in the juvenile cystic kidney ( jck) mouse. Despite the highly significant contribution of this locus in F2 progeny of a cross between C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice ( 4 ), a series of congenic strains carrying regions of chromosome 1 on a DBA/2J background did not show a severe disease phenotype. One possible explanation for these results is that this phenotype is caused by two linked loci, which have been separated in the congenic lines that were generated. This hypothesis is supported by the demonstration that severe PKD occurs in mice carrying a large congenic interval.