LAB of Genome Biology > RESEARCH > Swine Leukocyte Antigen
In our laboratory, we are conducting several promising projects related to SLA research:
1) Development of comprehensive high resolution typing methods of SLA genes using genomic DNA and direct sequencing.
2) Screening of interaction between SLA and antigenic peptides for vaccine development.
3) Association study between SLA and early die in piglets.
4) Establishment of SLA diverse immortalized cell lines.
5) Characterizing the linkage between SLA genes and olfactory receptor genes in pigs.
6) Refine the SLA region map as reference for typing using NSG technique.
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of pigs, also referred to as swine leukocyte antigens (SLA), is encoded by one of the most polymorphic regions of the pig genome, consisting of a group of genes designated as SLA class I and II systems. SLA proteins function mainly by presenting self- and non-self peptides on the surface of cells to T lymphocytes playing a vital role in the development and control of the swine immune system.
Figure 1. Molecular structure of MHC class I and II
Figure 2. Comparative genomic organization of the human and swine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I region. (Lunney et al. 2009)
Figure 3. Comparative genomic organization of the human and swine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II region (Lunney et al. 2009)
Numerous studies repeatedly showed the association of the SLA complex with immune responsiveness, disease resistance, and susceptibility, as well as reproductive performance and production characteristics. Moreover, pigs have served as an important nutritional source, as well as a valuable model to biomedical research, and possible organ or tissue donors for xenotransplantation. Therefore, SLA genes is one of emergent interested markers for program of Marker Assistant Selection (MAS) breeding, population genetics and immunology.
Related Papers
Choi H, Le MT, Lee H, Choi MK, Cho HS, Nagasundarapandian S, Kwon OJ, Kim JH, Seo K, Park JK, Lee JH, Ho CS, Park C. Sequence variations of the locus-specific 5' untranslated regions of SLA class I genes and the development of a comprehensive genomic DNA-based high-resolution typing method for SLA-2. TISSUE ANTIGENS 86-4 255~266, 2015.[PMID: 26381046]
Dadi H1 Le M, Dinka H, Nguyen D, Choi H, Cho H, Choi M, Kim JH, Park JK, Soundrarajan N, Park C. Genetic Diversity and mRNA Expression of Porcine MHC Class I Chain-Related 2(SLA-MIC2) Gene and Development of a High-Resolution Typing Method. PLOS ONE 10-8, 2015.[PMID: 26305091]
Le M, Choi H, Choi MK, Cho H, Kim JH, Seo HG, Cha SY, Seo K, Dadi H, Park C Development of a simultaneous high resolution typing method for three SLA class II genes and SLA-DRB1 and the analysis of SLA class II haplotypes. GENE 564-2 228~232, 2015.[PMID: 25824383]
Minh Thong Le, Hojun Choi, Min-Kyeung Choi, Dinh Truong Nguyen, Jin Hoi Kim, Han Guek Seo, Se Yeon Cha, Kunho Seo, Taehoon Chun, Lawrence B. Schook and Chankyu Park. Comprehensive and high resolution typing of swine leukocyte antigen DQA from genomic DNA and determination of 25 new SLA class II haplotypes. Tissue Antigens 80:528-535, 2012.[PMID: 23137324]
Cho HO, Ho CS, Lee YJ, Cho IC, Lee SS, Ko MS, Park C, Smith DM, Jeon JT, Lee JH. Establishment of a resource population of SLA haplotype-defined Korean native pigs. Molecules and cells. 29:1-10, 2010.[PMID: 20396963]
Park K, Choi H, Thong LM, Kwon OJ, Kim JH, Lee HT, Kim YB, Park SB, Park C. Simple and comprehensive SLA-DQB1 genotyping using genomic PCR and direct sequencing. Tissue antigens. 76:301-310, 2010.[PMID: 20604896]