Association of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Porcine Candidate Genes with Pig Immune and Meat Quality Traits in a Korean Native Pig × Yorkshire F2 population

The objective of this study was to detect significant SNPs for blood components (related to immune) as well as meat quality traits using candidate-gene approach in a Korean native pig (KNP) × Yorkshire (YK) population. The KNP × YK F₂ population contains 346 F₂ individuals with growth traits, meat quality, and blood parameters (immune traits) recorded. In present study, four candidate genes were covered among which CD163 and CD169/SN are important mediator in PRRSV infection, and porcine Guanylate-binding protein 1 and protein 2(GBP1 and GBP2) are two of the Interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) playing a key role in host immune defense against various pathogens. As reported, however, there is no association of these genes with meat quality traits except few immune traits. Here, our results showed the missense mutation c.10A>G as well as c.11A>G within exon2 of porcine GBP1 and the missense mutation rs338224687 within exon9 of porcine GBP2 were highly linked and shared a similar association profile in our population, that is they were both significantly associated with meat quality traits (juiciness, crude ash, and 24-h loin pH) and blood parameters (insulin, free cholesterol), whereas not significantly associated with immune traits. And c.3534C>T within 3’UTR of porcine CD163 was associated with crude fat and lymphocyte. Notably, the missense mutation rs345830287 within exon4 of porcine CD169/SN was significantly associated with meat quality traits (water holding capacity, tenderness), biochemical measures (total cholesterol, HLD cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, ester cholesterol), and also immune traits (immunoglobulin, neutrophil, and lymphocyte). These association data may serve as reference for the integrated animal breeding.