Abstract
The inheritance of avian scleroderma, a fibrotic autoimmune disease of chickens resembling human scleroderma, was investigated. Comb inflammations and lesions were used to determine the state of disease of 4-week-old chickens. All line 200 males and 60% of female line 200 chicks showed abnormalities. Crosses (F4) between line 200 and eight partially inbred lines of chickens maintained at the University of California at Davis were all normal. Backcrosses of F, cocks to line 200 hens showed a higher incidence of scleroderma in males than in females for all lines. The incidence of affected birds varied between backcrosses from a low of 42% for backcross line 217 males derived from a New Hampshire line, to 88% for males of backcross line 213 derived from a partially inbred Leghorn line, demonstrating the presence of genes modifying the penetrance of presumed major genes causing the disease. Backcross genotypes segregating for haplotypes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) derived from inbred lines showed consistently lower penetrance of scleroderma than homozygotes carrying the line 200 haplotype. Thus B3 BS (lines 211 and 215), B14Bus (line 217), and B15BS (lines 212, 213, 216, and 218) all had fewer affected individuals than BSBS homozygotes from the same families.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abplanalp, H.: Inbred lines as genetic resources of chickens.In G. E. Dickerson, R. K. Johnson (eds.):Proceedings of the Third World Congress of Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Lincoln Nebraska, Vol 10, pp. 257–268, University of Nebraska, 1986
Abplanalp, H., Okamoto, S., Napolitano, D., and Len, R. E.: A study of heterosis and recombination loss in crosses of inbred white leghorn lines derived from a common base population.Poult Sci 63: 234–239, 1984
Burge, K. M., Perry, H. O., and Stickley, G. B.: Familial scleroderma.Arch Dermatol 99: 681–687, 1969
Camus, J. P., Emerit, I., Reinert, P., Guillin, P., Croucet, J., and Fourot, J.: Sclerodermie familiale avec syndrome de Sjogren et anomalies lymphocytaises et chromosomiques.Ann Med Interne (Paris) 121: 149–161, 1970
Cole, R. K.: Hereditary hypothyroidism in the domestic fowl.Genetics 53: 1021, 1966
Emerit, I.: Chromosomal breakage in systemic sclerosis and related disorders.Dermatologica 153: 145–156, 1976
Emerit, I., Housset, E., and Feingold, J.: Chromosomal breakage and scleroderma: studies in family members.JLab Clin Med 88: 81–86, 1976
Fennell, R. H., Machlachlan, M. J., and Rodnan, G. P.: The occurrence of antinuclear factors in the sera of relatives of patients with systemic rheumatic disease. (Abstract.)Arthritis Rheum 5: 296, 1962
Gershwin, M. E., Abplanalp, H., Castles, J. J., Ikeda, R. M., Van de Water, J., Eklund, J., and Haynes, D.: Characterization of a spontaneous disease of White Leghorn chickens resembling progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).J Exp Med 153: 1640–1659, 1981
Gray, R. G. and Attman, R. D.: Progressive systemic sclerosis in a family: case report of a mother and son and review of the literature.Arhritis Rheum 20: 35–41, 1977
Gregor, R. E.: Familial progressive systemic sclerosis.Arch Dermatol 111: 81–85, 1975
Masi, A. T. and D'Angelo, W. A.: Epidemiology of fatal systemic sclerosis (diffuse scleroderma): a 15-year survey in Baltimore.Ann Intern Med 66: 870–882, 1967
Miller, M. M., Abplanalp, H., and Gato, R.: Genotyping chickens for the B-G subregion of the major histocompatibility complex using restriction fragment length polymorphisms.Immunogenetics 28: 374–379, 1988
Rendall, J. R. and McKenzie, A. W.: Familial scleroderma.Br J Dermatol 91: 517–527, 1974
Rothfield, N. F. and Rodnan, G. P.: Serum antinuclear antibodies in progressive systemic sclerosis (Scleroderma).Arthritis Rheum 11: 607–617, 1968
Van de Water, J., Gershwin, M. E., Abplanalp, H., Wick, G., and von der Mark, K.: Serial observations and definition of mononuclear cell infiltrates in avian scleroderma, an inherited fibrotic disease of chickens.Arthritis Rheum 29: 807–815, 1984
Van de Water, J., Haapanen, L., Boyd, R., Abplanalp, H., and Gershwin, M. E.: Identification of T cells in early dermal lymphocytic infiltrates in avian scleroderma.Arthritis Rheum 32: 1031–1040, 1989
Wick, G.: Autoimmune disease in an avian species: the Obese Strain (OS) of chickens as a model for human Hashimoto Thyroiditis.In A. Toivanen, P. Toivanen (eds.):Avian Immunology: Basis and Practice, Vol 2, pp. 169–184, CRC, Boca Raton, 1987
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Abplanalp, H., Gershwin, M.E., Johnston, E. et al. Genetic control of avian scleroderma. Immunogenetics 31, 291–295 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02115002
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02115002