Association of OPN, CXCR1 and SELL polymorphisms with total antioxidant capacity of milk in Polish Holstein–Friesian cows: a preliminary study

This Research Paper investigates the hypothesis that variations in genes related to immune system function may influence the antioxidant potential of cow milk. The present study analysed the association between genotypes at selected osteopontin (<i>OPN</i>), chemokine receptor type 1 (<i>CXCR1</i>) and L-selectin (<i>SELL</i>) gene loci and the total antioxidant capacity of milk from 519 Polish Holstein-Friesian black-and-white cows. Genotyping at the genomic loci employed the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism method, while the Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity method was used to measure milk TAC. The statistical method involves analysis of variance with Dunnett's post hoc tests. The results of analyses showed that the chosen genotypes as a TT (<i>CXCR1</i> - c.291C > T), TT (<i>CXCR1</i> - c. + 365 T > C) and TT (<i>SELL</i> - c.567C > T) combination was significantly associated with higher mean milk antioxidant capacity (<i>P</i> < 0.039). Therefore, analysing polymorphisms in genes related to the bovine immune system appears to be important in the context of selecting animals that produce milk with enhanced functional properties.