Heritability of metabolic traits associated with equine metabolic syndrome in Welsh ponies and Morgan horses

E. M. Norton; N. E. Schultz; A. K. Rendahl; D. Mcfarlane; R. J. Geor; J. R. Mickelson; M. E. McCue

doi:10.1111/evj.13053

Heritability of metabolic traits associated with equine metabolic syndrome in Welsh ponies and Morgan horses

E. M. Norton, N. E. Schultz, A. K. Rendahl, D. Mcfarlane, R. J. Geor, J. R. Mickelson, M. E. McCue

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27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a complex clinical disorder with both environmental and genetic factors contributing to EMS phenotypes. Estimates of heritability determine the proportion of variation in a trait that is attributable to genetics. Objectives: To provide heritability estimates for nine metabolic traits associated with EMS in two high-risk breeds. Study design: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: High-density single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype data was used to estimate the heritability (h²_SNP) of nine metabolic traits relevant to EMS in a cohort of 264 Welsh ponies and 286 Morgan horses. Traits included measurements of insulin, glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), triglycerides, leptin, adiponectin, ACTH, and glucose (GLU-OST) and insulin (INS-OST) following an oral sugar challenge. Results: In Welsh ponies, seven of the nine traits had statistically significant h²_SNP estimates that were considered moderately to highly heritable (h²_SNP>0.20) including: triglycerides (0.313; s.e. = 0.146), glucose (0.408; s.e. = 0.135), NEFA (0.434; s.e. = 0.136), INS-OST (0.440; s.e. = 0.148), adiponectin (0.488; s.e. = 0.143), leptin (0.554; s.e. = 0.132) and insulin (0.808; s.e. = 0.108). In Morgans, six of the nine traits had statistically significant h²_SNP estimates that were also determined to be moderately to highly heritable including: INS-OST (0.359; s.e. = 0.185), leptin (0.486; s.e. = 0.177), GLU-OST (0.566 s.e. = 0.175), insulin (0.592; s.e. = 0.195), NEFA (0.684; s.e. = 0.164), and adiponectin (0.913; s.e. = 0.181). Main limitations: Insufficient population size may have limited power to obtain statistically significant h²_SNP estimates for ACTH (both breeds), glucose and triglycerides in Morgans and GLU-OST in Welsh ponies. Conclusions: This study provides the first concrete evidence of a genetic contribution to key phenotypes associated with EMS. Eight of these nine traits had moderate to high h²_SNP estimates in this cohort. These data demonstrate that continued research for identification of the genetic risk factors for EMS phenotypes within and across breeds is warranted.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	475-480
Number of pages	6
Journal	Equine veterinary journal
Volume	51
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13053
State	Published - Jul 2019

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by Morris Animal Foundation (Understanding Genetic Risk Factors for Metabolic Syndrome; D14EQ-033), United States Department of Agriculture (Integrated Research and Extension Program for Equine Metabolic Syndrome; AFRI-NIFA project 2009-55205-05254), and National Institute of Health T32 Training Grant (T32 OD010993).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 EVJ Ltd

Keywords

EMS
REML
SNP-based heritability
genetics
horse
insulin dysregulation

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@article{e93dd2b981ee450991b04d9da393ab9e,

title = "Heritability of metabolic traits associated with equine metabolic syndrome in Welsh ponies and Morgan horses",

abstract = "Background: Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a complex clinical disorder with both environmental and genetic factors contributing to EMS phenotypes. Estimates of heritability determine the proportion of variation in a trait that is attributable to genetics. Objectives: To provide heritability estimates for nine metabolic traits associated with EMS in two high-risk breeds. Study design: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: High-density single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype data was used to estimate the heritability (h2SNP) of nine metabolic traits relevant to EMS in a cohort of 264 Welsh ponies and 286 Morgan horses. Traits included measurements of insulin, glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), triglycerides, leptin, adiponectin, ACTH, and glucose (GLU-OST) and insulin (INS-OST) following an oral sugar challenge. Results: In Welsh ponies, seven of the nine traits had statistically significant h2SNP estimates that were considered moderately to highly heritable (h2SNP>0.20) including: triglycerides (0.313; s.e. = 0.146), glucose (0.408; s.e. = 0.135), NEFA (0.434; s.e. = 0.136), INS-OST (0.440; s.e. = 0.148), adiponectin (0.488; s.e. = 0.143), leptin (0.554; s.e. = 0.132) and insulin (0.808; s.e. = 0.108). In Morgans, six of the nine traits had statistically significant h2SNP estimates that were also determined to be moderately to highly heritable including: INS-OST (0.359; s.e. = 0.185), leptin (0.486; s.e. = 0.177), GLU-OST (0.566 s.e. = 0.175), insulin (0.592; s.e. = 0.195), NEFA (0.684; s.e. = 0.164), and adiponectin (0.913; s.e. = 0.181). Main limitations: Insufficient population size may have limited power to obtain statistically significant h2SNP estimates for ACTH (both breeds), glucose and triglycerides in Morgans and GLU-OST in Welsh ponies. Conclusions: This study provides the first concrete evidence of a genetic contribution to key phenotypes associated with EMS. Eight of these nine traits had moderate to high h2SNP estimates in this cohort. These data demonstrate that continued research for identification of the genetic risk factors for EMS phenotypes within and across breeds is warranted.",

keywords = "EMS, REML, SNP-based heritability, genetics, horse, insulin dysregulation",

author = "Norton, {E. M.} and Schultz, {N. E.} and Rendahl, {A. K.} and D. Mcfarlane and Geor, {R. J.} and Mickelson, {J. R.} and McCue, {M. E.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by Morris Animal Foundation (Understanding Genetic Risk Factors for Metabolic Syndrome; D14EQ-033), United States Department of Agriculture (Integrated Research and Extension Program for Equine Metabolic Syndrome; AFRI-NIFA project 2009-55205-05254), and National Institute of Health T32 Training Grant (T32 OD010993). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 EVJ Ltd",

year = "2019",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1111/evj.13053",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "51",

pages = "475--480",

journal = "Equine veterinary journal",

issn = "0425-1644",

publisher = "Equine Veterinary Journal Ltd.",

number = "4",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Heritability of metabolic traits associated with equine metabolic syndrome in Welsh ponies and Morgan horses

AU - Norton, E. M.

AU - Schultz, N. E.

AU - Rendahl, A. K.

AU - Mcfarlane, D.

AU - Geor, R. J.

AU - Mickelson, J. R.

AU - McCue, M. E.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by Morris Animal Foundation (Understanding Genetic Risk Factors for Metabolic Syndrome; D14EQ-033), United States Department of Agriculture (Integrated Research and Extension Program for Equine Metabolic Syndrome; AFRI-NIFA project 2009-55205-05254), and National Institute of Health T32 Training Grant (T32 OD010993). Publisher Copyright: © 2018 EVJ Ltd

PY - 2019/7

Y1 - 2019/7

N2 - Background: Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a complex clinical disorder with both environmental and genetic factors contributing to EMS phenotypes. Estimates of heritability determine the proportion of variation in a trait that is attributable to genetics. Objectives: To provide heritability estimates for nine metabolic traits associated with EMS in two high-risk breeds. Study design: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: High-density single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype data was used to estimate the heritability (h2SNP) of nine metabolic traits relevant to EMS in a cohort of 264 Welsh ponies and 286 Morgan horses. Traits included measurements of insulin, glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), triglycerides, leptin, adiponectin, ACTH, and glucose (GLU-OST) and insulin (INS-OST) following an oral sugar challenge. Results: In Welsh ponies, seven of the nine traits had statistically significant h2SNP estimates that were considered moderately to highly heritable (h2SNP>0.20) including: triglycerides (0.313; s.e. = 0.146), glucose (0.408; s.e. = 0.135), NEFA (0.434; s.e. = 0.136), INS-OST (0.440; s.e. = 0.148), adiponectin (0.488; s.e. = 0.143), leptin (0.554; s.e. = 0.132) and insulin (0.808; s.e. = 0.108). In Morgans, six of the nine traits had statistically significant h2SNP estimates that were also determined to be moderately to highly heritable including: INS-OST (0.359; s.e. = 0.185), leptin (0.486; s.e. = 0.177), GLU-OST (0.566 s.e. = 0.175), insulin (0.592; s.e. = 0.195), NEFA (0.684; s.e. = 0.164), and adiponectin (0.913; s.e. = 0.181). Main limitations: Insufficient population size may have limited power to obtain statistically significant h2SNP estimates for ACTH (both breeds), glucose and triglycerides in Morgans and GLU-OST in Welsh ponies. Conclusions: This study provides the first concrete evidence of a genetic contribution to key phenotypes associated with EMS. Eight of these nine traits had moderate to high h2SNP estimates in this cohort. These data demonstrate that continued research for identification of the genetic risk factors for EMS phenotypes within and across breeds is warranted.

AB - Background: Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a complex clinical disorder with both environmental and genetic factors contributing to EMS phenotypes. Estimates of heritability determine the proportion of variation in a trait that is attributable to genetics. Objectives: To provide heritability estimates for nine metabolic traits associated with EMS in two high-risk breeds. Study design: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: High-density single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype data was used to estimate the heritability (h2SNP) of nine metabolic traits relevant to EMS in a cohort of 264 Welsh ponies and 286 Morgan horses. Traits included measurements of insulin, glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), triglycerides, leptin, adiponectin, ACTH, and glucose (GLU-OST) and insulin (INS-OST) following an oral sugar challenge. Results: In Welsh ponies, seven of the nine traits had statistically significant h2SNP estimates that were considered moderately to highly heritable (h2SNP>0.20) including: triglycerides (0.313; s.e. = 0.146), glucose (0.408; s.e. = 0.135), NEFA (0.434; s.e. = 0.136), INS-OST (0.440; s.e. = 0.148), adiponectin (0.488; s.e. = 0.143), leptin (0.554; s.e. = 0.132) and insulin (0.808; s.e. = 0.108). In Morgans, six of the nine traits had statistically significant h2SNP estimates that were also determined to be moderately to highly heritable including: INS-OST (0.359; s.e. = 0.185), leptin (0.486; s.e. = 0.177), GLU-OST (0.566 s.e. = 0.175), insulin (0.592; s.e. = 0.195), NEFA (0.684; s.e. = 0.164), and adiponectin (0.913; s.e. = 0.181). Main limitations: Insufficient population size may have limited power to obtain statistically significant h2SNP estimates for ACTH (both breeds), glucose and triglycerides in Morgans and GLU-OST in Welsh ponies. Conclusions: This study provides the first concrete evidence of a genetic contribution to key phenotypes associated with EMS. Eight of these nine traits had moderate to high h2SNP estimates in this cohort. These data demonstrate that continued research for identification of the genetic risk factors for EMS phenotypes within and across breeds is warranted.

KW - EMS

KW - REML

KW - SNP-based heritability

KW - genetics

KW - horse

KW - insulin dysregulation

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Heritability of metabolic traits associated with equine metabolic syndrome in Welsh ponies and Morgan horses

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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