Currently Funded Studies

Chromosal Regions and Genes Associated with Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture in the Dog

Dr. Vicki L. Wilke, Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, University of Minnesota

A torn cruciate ligament in a dog is commonly identified as the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) or scientifically a CCLR (cranial cruciate ligament rupture). CCLR is the tearing of a ligament within the stifle or “knee” of the dog. This tearing generally occurs when the dog is playing or running, and the knee is extended. Repair of this ligament generally requires surgery and rehabilitation with physical therapy. Even with corrective surgery, arthritis may develop. Dr. Dunphy emphasized the importance of this study because, to summarize some of Dr. Wilke’s research project, CCLR is a major health concern in dogs in general and Newfoundlands in particular.

As many as 22 percent of dogs presented to a veterinary teaching hospital were presented for CCLR in a six- year retrospective study. Based on a study conducted in 2006 by Dr. Wilke, CCLR in the Newfoundland dog is predicted to have a recessive pattern of inheritance. The hypothesis of the current cruciate study is that genetic mutations may exist which predispose the dog to CCLR. The goals of the study are to evaluate DNA obtained from both affected and unaffected Newfoundland dogs and search chromosal regions associated with CCLR and to search DNA for genetic markers that may serve as disease predictors. These markers may allow the identification of carriers of CCLR and potentially reduce or eliminate CCLR from the dog population.

The long-range goals of this study are to identify CCLR associated genetic mutation(s) and to develop a genetic test to identify CCLR predisposed dogs.

When announcing this study, Dr. Dunphy reminded the NCA membership and Newfoundland fanciers everywhere that their contributions to the Newfoundland Health Challenge made this research possible. He also stressed the importance of our continued contributions because many valuable research projects are on the horizon; and we need to be prepared to support them. After committing funds for this study and allocating approximately $6,000 for DNA rebates, the balance in the NHC needs a boost. He further added, the health of future generations of Newfoundlands is in our hands and deserves our support.

Read the Acceptance Letter from University of Minnesota

The Study of the Genetics of Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease in the Dog

Max Rothschild, PhD. Iowa State University

Background Cranial cruciate ligament disease (CCLD) is the cause of limping in nearly 20 percent of all dogs that are taken by their owners to veterinarians for lameness. CCLD causes instability in the knee, swelling and pain. Surgery to stabilize a torn CCL costs individual dog owners thousands of dollars and the dog owning public tens of millions of dollars each year and even with surgery, debilitating arthritis occurs and progresses. CCLD commonly occurs in particular breeds of dogs (e.g. Labrador Retreiver, Rottweiler, and Newfoundland) while other breeds (e.g. Greyhound, German Shepherd) rarely develop this problem. When a disease is seen with increased frequency in particular breeds of dogs, this supports the probability that a disease, in this case CCLD, is hereditary.
Using this information we have already collected pedigrees and genetic material (DNA) from normal and CCLD affected Newfoundlands. The pedigrees will be used to determine a pattern of inheritance (i.e. simple recessive, sex-linked) for CCLD. The DNA will be used to search for genetic markers that differ between normal and affected dogs and may serve as disease predictors. These markers will then allow identification of carriers of CCLD, and potentially reduction or elimination of CCLD from the dog population.

Heritable and Sporadic Genetic Lesions in Canine Lymphoma

Dr. Breen, North Carolina State University and
Dr. Jaime Modiano, University of Colorado

It has been apparent for some time that certain dog breeds are prone to develop certain types of cancer. Specifically, studies completed between the late 1960's and the early 1980's defined relative risk of lymphoma for different dog breeds. Yet, there was little progress since then to define factors that account for this risk. As part of ongoing programs supported by the AKC CHF in our laboratories, we showed recently that the breed-specific risk of lymphoma extends beyond the simple disease condition to a predisposition for specific forms of lymphoma. More importantly, we showed there are recurrent chromosomal abnormalities that segregate with specific forms of lymphoma and that are more common in Golden Retrievers (with that form of the disease) than in other breeds, suggesting breed-specific profiles of genetic abnormalities will be found in canine lymphoma.
To continue this work, we plan to use contemporary "array-based" technologies to identify genes that map to these regions and how they contribute to the disease. We anticipate that the results from this work will allow us to predict how heritable factors influence the occurrence of abnormalities in these genes, and will set the groundwork to identify specific genes associated with breed-dependent cancer risk.

Oligonucleotide Microarray Gene Expression Profiling of Canine Lymphoma

William Kisseberth, DVM, PhD. Ohio State University

Lymphoma is one of the most common cancers seen in the dog. Current methods of classifying lymphoma neither explain nor predict its variable clinical behavior. While the majority of canine lymphomas appear microscopically similar and affected dogs show similar clinical signs, the clinical course of the disease can vary significantly in patients with microscopically identical tumors with identical clinical signs. This heterogeneity in behavior is particularly evident with respect to response to chemotherapy. Although the majority of patients initially respond well to chemotherapy, some are disease-free for a few months, while others remain disease-free over two years. Clearly, microscopic and initial clinical appearances inadequately explain the variable clinical behavior. In order to better understand and explain these differences, we will create and develop a specialized dog lymphoma gene microarray; a new tool that can be used to determine which groups of genes are important in different sub-types of lymphoma. Ultimately, by identifying these important groups of genes, we hope to 1) provide better prognostic information regarding individual tumor clinical behavior, 2) identify important groups of genes that characterize unique lymphoma sub-types, and 3) identify new molecules or genes that can be targets for development of new drugs to treat lymphoma.

Development of a New Resource for Positional Cloning of Hip Dysplasia Genes: A High Density SNP Map of Canine Chromosome One

Elaine Ostrander, PhD. National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH

Genome maps are essential for identifying disease genes. The current canine map is composed of several thousand markers, and as a result, has proven useful for localizing several disease genes. A much more highly refined map is necessary if we are to actually clone disease genes of interest (not just identify their location) and, subsequently, develop appropriate genetic tests. This proposal aims at developing the technology to do that, focusing on a test case on chromosome one, where two genes associated with hip dysplasia in the Portuguese Water Dog have been mapped. The goal is to determine the location and linear order of many hundred small variants called "SNPs" throughout chromosome one. The resulting SNP map can then be used 1) by ourselves to identify the culprit gene(s) in PWD and 2) by anyone studying hip dysplasia in any breed of dog to determine if the same chromosomal region that is mutated in the Portuguese Water Dog is similarly responsible for disease in other breeds.

Molecular Analysis of Contributory Factors of Osteoarthritis in Canine Hip Dysplasia

Alpana Ray, PhD., University of Missouri

Hip Dysplasia is a common disease of dogs that ultimately leads to osteoarthritis (OA), a serious debilitating condition, which at present, is treated by symptomatic management of pain. Accidental injuries also lead to the development of OA. Cartilage degeneration is fundamental to the pathogenesis of OA. We propose to study the transcriptional control of MMP-1, a major enzyme involved in the degradation of articular cartilage. Expression of MMP-1 gene and the corresponding protein is markedly increased under osteoarthritic condition. Because cytokines like IL-1 and TNF-¿ increase expression of MMP-1 and biomechanical factors also influence its expression in osteoarthritic, unstable joints, the objectives are to understand what components of the promoter region of canine MMP-1 gene are influenced by these factors. At present no data is available on canine MMP-1 gene regulation. This proposal is aimed towards understanding the regulation of canine MMP-1 gene expression in response to biomechanical stress and cytokines by isolating canine MMP-1 gene, identifying the regulatory elements in the promoter responsive to biomechanical stress and cytokines, and analyzing MMP-1 expression in chondrocytes of articular cartilage from normal and osteoarthritic dogs with the intent to develop novel therapeutic drugs to combat this disease.