Fine mapping reveals multiple loci and a possible epistatic interaction within the mammary carcinoma susceptibility quantitative trait locus, Mcs5

To identify high-frequency, low-penetrance breast cancer modifier genes, we have developed a rat genetic model that uses the Wistar-Kyoto (WKy) inbred strain, resistant to developing 7,12-dimethylbenza]anthracene-induced mammary carcinogenesis, as a congenic donor and the susceptible Wistar-Furth (WF) strain as the recipient. Here, data from congenic rat lines containing smaller WKy genomic intervals of the Mcs5 quantitative trait locus region are presented to fine map three independently acting Mcs5 subloci. WKy-homozygous females from congenic lines defining Mcs5a, Mcs5b, and Mcs5c averaged, respectively, 4.0 +/- 0.4, 11.6 +/- 0.6, and 3.5 +/- 0.4 mammary carcinomas per rat. These phenotypic values are statistically different from the WF-homozygous phenotype value of 8.0 +/- 0.4, which is the baseline phenotype used for these experiments. We identified a likely Mcs5a x Mcs5b epistatic interaction that results in masking the increased susceptibility effect of the Mcs5b WKy allele by the Mcs5a WKy allele. We also provide evidence for a Mcs5a x Mcs5c interaction that is synergistic to decrease mammary carcinoma susceptibility below the additive effects of WKy alleles at each locus independently. The Mcs5 subloci are currently localized to 1.0, 7.5, and 4.5 Mb of rat chromosome 5, and the orthologous regions are on human chromosome 9 and mouse chromosome 4. These loci will provide unbiased candidate gene loci for evaluation in human case-control association studies.