de Groot N, Stanbury K, de Vos-Rouweler A J M, de Groot N G, Poirier N, Blancho G, de Luna C, Doxiadis G G M, Bontrop R E
Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Department of Comparative Genetics and Refinement, Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288 GJ, Rijswijk, The Netherlands.
Writtle College, Essex University, Lordship Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 3RR, UK.
Immunogenetics. 2017 Apr;69(4):231-240. doi: 10.1007/s00251-016-0968-0. Epub 2017 Jan 13.
Gene products of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of human and non-human primates play a crucial role in adaptive immunity, and most of the relevant genes not only show a high degree of variability (polymorphism) but also copy number variation (CNV) is observed. Due to this diversity, MHC proteins influence the capability of individuals to cope with various pathogens. MHC and/or MHC-linked gene products such as odorant receptor genes are thought to influence mate choice and reproductive success. Therefore, MHC typing of wild and captive primate populations is considered to be useful in conservation biology, which is, however, often hampered by the need of invasive and time-consuming methods. All intact Mhc-DRB genes in primates appear to possess a complex and highly divergent microsatellite, DRB-STR. A panel of 154 pedigreed olive baboons (Papio anubis) was examined for their DRB content by DRB-STR analysis of genomic DNA. Using the same methodology on DNA of feces samples, DRB variability of a silvery gibbon population (Hylobates moloch) (N = 24), an endangered species, could successfully be studied. In both species, length determination of the DRB-STR resulted in the definition of unique genotyping patterns that appeared to be specific for a certain chromosome. Moreover, the different STR lengths were shown to segregate with the allelic variation of the respective gene. The results obtained expand data gained previously on DRB-STR typing in macaques, great apes, and humans and strengthen the conclusion that this protocol is applicable in molecular ecology, conservation biology, and colony management, especially of endangered primate species.
人类和非人类灵长类动物主要组织相容性复合体（MHC）的基因产物在适应性免疫中发挥着关键作用，而且大多数相关基因不仅表现出高度变异性（多态性），还观察到拷贝数变异（CNV）。由于这种多样性，MHC蛋白影响个体应对各种病原体的能力。MHC和/或与MHC相关的基因产物，如嗅觉受体基因，被认为会影响配偶选择和繁殖成功率。因此，对野生和圈养灵长类动物种群进行MHC分型被认为在保护生物学中很有用，然而，这一过程常常因需要侵入性且耗时的方法而受阻。灵长类动物中所有完整的Mhc - DRB基因似乎都拥有一个复杂且高度分化的微卫星，即DRB - STR。通过对基因组DNA进行DRB - STR分析，对154只具有谱系的东非狒狒（Papio anubis）的DRB含量进行了检测。使用相同的方法对银长臂猿（Hylobates moloch）（N = 24）这一濒危物种粪便样本的DNA进行检测，成功研究了其DRB变异性。在这两个物种中，DRB - STR长度的测定产生了独特的基因分型模式，这些模式似乎特定于某条染色体。此外，不同的STR长度显示与各自基因的等位变异一起分离。所获得的结果扩展了之前在猕猴、大猩猩和人类中关于DRB - STR分型的数据，并强化了这一方案适用于分子生态学、保护生物学以及种群管理，尤其是濒危灵长类物种的种群管理这一结论。
