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Veterinary research communications2025; 49(3); 184; doi: 10.1007/s11259-025-10748-2

Genetic susceptibility to sarcoid in Arabian horses: associations with MHC class II and compound MHC class I/KLRA genotypes.

Abstract: Although the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) has been repeatedly associated with susceptibility to equine sarcoid, a disease associated with bovine papillomavirus infection, the role of the MHC in the mechanisms of the disease is not fully understood. The objectives of our work were to analyze associations between polymorphic markers of the MHC genomic subregions and of the Natural Killer Complex (NKC) genomic region and the presence of sarcoid in Arabian horses. Microsatellite loci located in the MHC class I, II and III subregions and two MHC class II genes (DRA, DQA1), along with a set of NKC (KLRA, CLEC subregions) microsatelllite markers were genotyped. Fifteen microsatellites of the standard parentage kit, located outside the MHC and NKC regions, were tested as controls. Standard chi-square and Fisher tests with Bonferroni corrections were used for association analyses. Significant associations of MHC class II and MHC class I_KLRA polymorphic markers with the presence of clinical sarcoid were observed. These findings are consistent with biological theory and indicate a role of MHC class I, class II and KLRA molecules in adaptive as well as in innate immune responses to equine sarcoid. Although limited to Arabian horses, these data point to an as yet unadressed hypothesis regarding the possible roles of NK cells in the pathogenesis of equine sarcoid.
© 2025. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2025-05-01 PubMed ID: 40310488PubMed Central: PMC12045807DOI: 10.1007/s11259-025-10748-2Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research study investigates the genetic predisposition of Arabian horses to sarcoid, a skin disease, by analyzing the associations between this disease and polymorphic markers in the Major Histocompatibility Complex and Natural Killer Complex. Significant correlations between MHC class II, MHC class I_KLRA polymorphic markers and the presence of clinical sarcoid were noted, proposing a role of these molecules in the immune response to equine sarcoid.

Objectives and Methods of Research

  • This study aims to delve into the association between the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) and the susceptibility of Arabian horses to sarcoid, which are skin tumors caused by bovine papillomavirus infection. The role of the MHC in this disease, however, has not been clearly defined.
  • Polymorphic markers of the MHC and the Natural Killer Complex (NKC) subregions are analyzed for any correlations with the disease. These markers, located in MHC class I, II, and III subregions, and genes (DRA, DQA1), along with markers in the KLRA and CLEC subregions of the NKC, were genotyped.
  • As controls, fifteen microsatellites lying outside these genetic regions, part of the standard parentage kit, were also tested. Standard chi-square and Fisher tests with Bonferroni corrections were applied for association analyses.

Findings and Inference

  • The study found significant associations between the presence of clinical sarcoid and polymorphic markers in MHC class II, and compound MHC class I_KLRA.
  • This discovery is in line with biological theories and indicates these MHC and KLRA molecules might play an essential role in both adaptive and innate immune responses against equine sarcoid.
  • Though the study was limited to Arabian horses, these findings propose new hypotheses regarding the possible roles of Natural Killer (NK) cells in the pathogenesis, or the manner of development, of equine sarcoid.

Cite This Article

APA
Vychodilova L, Plasil M, Futas J, Kopecka A, Molinkova D, Wijacki T, Jahn P, Knoll A, Horin P. (2025). Genetic susceptibility to sarcoid in Arabian horses: associations with MHC class II and compound MHC class I/KLRA genotypes. Vet Res Commun, 49(3), 184. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-025-10748-2

Publication

Veterinary research communications
ISSN: 1573-7446
NlmUniqueID: 8100520
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 49
Issue: 3
Pages: 184
PII: 184

Researcher Affiliations

Vychodilova, Leona
  • Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, 61242, Czech Republic.
Plasil, Martin
  • RG Animal Immunogenomics, CEITEC VETUNI, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
Futas, Jan
  • Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, 61242, Czech Republic.
  • RG Animal Immunogenomics, CEITEC VETUNI, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
Kopecka, Andrea
  • Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, 61242, Czech Republic.
Molinkova, Dobromila
  • Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, 61242, Czech Republic.
Wijacki, Tamara
  • Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University, Brno, Czech Republic.
Jahn, Petr
  • Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, 61242, Czech Republic.
Knoll, Ales
  • Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University, Brno, Czech Republic.
Horin, Petr
  • Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, 61242, Czech Republic. horin@med.muni.cz.
  • RG Animal Immunogenomics, CEITEC VETUNI, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic. horin@med.muni.cz.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Horse Diseases / genetics
  • Horse Diseases / immunology
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Sarcoidosis / veterinary
  • Sarcoidosis / genetics
  • Sarcoidosis / immunology
  • Microsatellite Repeats / genetics
  • Genotype
  • Genes, MHC Class I / genetics
  • Genes, MHC Class II / genetics
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / genetics

Conflict of Interest Statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: All samples were collected by licensed veterinarians according to the best veterinary practice and in full compliance with all legal, professional, welfare and ethical standards during therapeutic procedures unrelated to this study, based on the informed consent of the owners. Therefore, in agreement with its rules, no special approval of the Committee for Animal Welfare and Ethics of the University of Veterinary Sciences Brno was needed for working on shared, archived, and re-used samples. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

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