OBJECTIVE: The complex genetics of @entity571 ( @entity571 ) are still poorly defined. To circumvent the problems of genetic and environmental diversity hampering the analysis in @entity1 , we investigated quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with @entity19 @entity571 in the STR/ort strain which spontaneously develops osteoarthritic changes of the knee joints, overweight and elevated serum @entity68666 ( @entity68666 ) levels. METHODS: Two hundred and seventy six male F2 intercross (STR/ortxC57BL/6) animals were genotyped using 96 microsatellite markers and phenotyped by analyzing weight, serum @entity68666 levels and osteoarthritic changes of the knee joints. Quantitative trait analyses were performed using the R/qtl software. RESULTS: Elevated weight, serum @entity68666 levels and osteoarthritic changes of the knee joints in the F2 generation compared to C57BL/6 parental animals confirm Mendelian inheritance. Quantitative trait analyses revealed three weight-, one serum @entity68666 - and one @entity571 -locus. CONCLUSIONS: The weight-QTL coincide with previously described genes and QTL involved in @entity844 metabolism and offer a plausible explanation for the observed phenotype in STR/ort @entity19 . The exact match of the @entity68666 -QTL and the @entity68666 gene itself suggests a regulatory polymorphism to account for elevated serum levels in STR/ort @entity19 and questions the robustness of serum @entity68666 as a prognostic marker in @entity1 knee @entity571 . The newly identified QTL associated with degenerative changes of the knee joints support the concept of @entity571 resulting from a defective chondrocyte metabolism and/or altered apoptosis rate. However, we also discuss the unlikelihood of one QTL being responsible for @entity571 in STR/ort @entity19 and the inherent limitations of microsatellite analyses for @entity74 .

The genetics of @entity571 in STR/ort XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['humans', 'human'] @entity844 :: ('CHEBI:35366', 'Chemical') :: ['fatty acid'] @entity571 :: ('MESH:D010003', 'Disease') :: ['osteoarthritis', 'OA'] @entity19 :: ('10090', 'Species') :: ['mice', 'murine'] @entity74 :: ('MESH:D030342', 'Disease') :: ['complex genetic diseases'] @entity68666 :: ('12845(Tax:10090)', 'Gene') :: ['cartilage oligomeric matrix protein', 'COMP']
@entity19 :: (10090,Species) :: ['mice']
