Interacting QTLs for cholesterol gallstones and gallbladder mucin in AKR and SWR strains of mice

Physiol Genomics. 2002 Feb 11;8(1):67-77. doi: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00097.2001.

Abstract

We employed quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in a backcross between gallstone-susceptible SWR/J and gallstone-resistant AKR/J inbred mice to identify additional susceptibility loci for cholesterol gallstone formation. After 12 wk of feeding the mice a lithogenic diet, we phenotyped 330 backcross progeny for gallstones, gallbladder mucin accumulation, liver weight, and body weight. Marker-based regression analysis revealed significant single QTLs associated with gallstone formation on chromosome 9 and the liver weight/body weight ratio on chromosomes 5 and X. A search for gene pairs detected significant gene-gene interactions for mucin accumulation between loci on chromosomes 5 and 11 and suggestive gene-gene interactions linked to gallstone formation between the QTL on chromosome 9 and loci on chromosomes 6 and 15. These findings uncover new QTLs for cholesterol gallstones, reveal independent loci for mucin accumulation, and demonstrate the importance of considering gene-gene interactions in cholesterol cholelithiasis. According to standard nomenclature, the gallstone QTL on chromosome 9 is named Lith5.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Weight / genetics
  • Cholelithiasis / genetics*
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Crosses, Genetic
  • Diet
  • Female
  • Gallbladder / chemistry*
  • Gallbladder / metabolism*
  • Genetic Markers / genetics
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics
  • Liver / physiology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred AKR
  • Mucins / genetics*
  • Mucins / metabolism
  • Organ Size / genetics
  • Quantitative Trait, Heritable*

Substances

  • Genetic Markers
  • Mucins