[an error occurred while processing this directive]

HEREDITAS ›› 2010, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (7): 663-669.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1005.2010.00663

• en • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Regulation mechanisms of epigenetics on inflammation and its per-spective on breeding for mastitis resistance in dairy cattle

WANG Xiao-Shuo, YU Ying   

  1. College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
  • Received:2009-10-25 Revised:2010-03-02 Online:2010-07-20 Published:2010-07-20
  • Contact: Ying Yu E-mail:yuyingmaryland@yahoo.com

Abstract: Inflammation is controlled by genetic and non-genetic factors (environment and epigenetics), within non-genetic factors, epigenetics play important roles in the development of inflammation. Epigenetic modifications, referring to changes in phenotype or gene expression caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence, mainly include DNA methylation and histone modification. Epigenetic study builds up the relationships between microorganism and inflammation. In inflammation responses, differentiation of T helper cells and gene expression of cytokine and chemokine are all regulated by epigenetics. Here, we reviewed the regulation mechanisms of DNA methylation and histone modifications on inflammation, especially on cow mastitis. The progress and application trends of epigenetics on treatment of mastitis and breeding for mastitis resistance in dairy cattle are also discussed.

Key words: Inflammation, epigenetics, mastitis, breeding for disease resistance