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Minias P, Pap PL, Vincze O, Vágási CI. Correlated evolution of oxidative physiology and MHC-based immunosurveillance in birds. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20240686. [PMID: 38889785 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Maintenance and activation of the immune system incur costs, not only in terms of substrates and energy but also via collateral oxidative damage to host cells or tissues during immune response. So far, associations between immune function and oxidative damage have been primarily investigated at intra-specific scales. Here, we hypothesized that pathogen-driven selection should favour the evolution of effective immunosurveillance mechanisms (e.g. major histocompatibility complex, MHC) and antioxidant defences to mitigate oxidative damage resulting from immune function. Using phylogenetically informed comparative approaches, we provided evidence for the correlated evolution of host oxidative physiology and MHC-based immunosurveillance in birds. Species selected for more robust MHC-based immunosurveillance (higher gene copy numbers and allele diversity) showed stronger antioxidant defences, although selection for MHC diversity still showed a positive evolutionary association with oxidative damage to lipids. Our results indicate that historical pathogen-driven selection for highly duplicated and diverse MHC could have promoted the evolution of efficient antioxidant mechanisms, but these evolutionary solutions may be insufficient to keep oxidative stress at bounds. Although the precise nature of mechanistic links between the MHC and oxidative stress remains unclear, our study suggests that a general evolutionary investment in immune function may require co-adaptations at the level of host oxidative metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Minias
- Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Banacha 1/3, 90-237 Lodz, Poland
| | - Péter L Pap
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Orsolya Vincze
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Wetland Ecology Research Group, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Debrecen, Hungary
- ImmunoConcEpT, University of Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5164, Bordeaux, France
| | - Csongor I Vágási
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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2
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Kadamani KL, Logan SM, Pamenter ME. Does hypometabolism constrain innate immune defense? Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2024; 240:e14091. [PMID: 38288574 DOI: 10.1111/apha.14091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Many animals routinely make energetic trade-offs to adjust to environmental demands and these trade-offs often have significant implications for survival. For example, environmental hypoxia is commonly experienced by many organisms and is an energetically challenging condition because reduced oxygen availability constrains aerobic energy production, which can be lethal. Many hypoxia-tolerant species downregulate metabolic demands when oxygen is limited; however, certain physiological functions are obligatory and must be maintained despite the need to conserve energy in hypoxia. Of particular interest is immunity (including both constitutive and induced immune functions) because mounting an immune response is among the most energetically expensive physiological processes but maintaining immune function is critical for survival in most environments. Intriguingly, physiological responses to hypoxia and pathogens share key molecular regulators such as hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, through which hypoxia can directly activate an immune response. This raises an interesting question: do hypoxia-tolerant species mount an immune response during periods of hypoxia-induced hypometabolism? Unfortunately, surprisingly few studies have examined interactions between immunity and hypometabolism in such species. Therefore, in this review, we consider mechanistic interactions between metabolism and immunity, as well as energetic trade-offs between these two systems, in hypoxia-tolerant animals but also in other models of hypometabolism, including neonates and hibernators. Specifically, we explore the hypothesis that such species have blunted immune responses in hypometabolic conditions and/or use alternative immune pathways when in a hypometabolic state. Evidence to date suggests that hypoxia-tolerant animals do maintain immunity in low oxygen conditions, but that the sensitivity of immune responses may be blunted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen L Kadamani
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Samantha M Logan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Matthew E Pamenter
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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3
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Meißner R, Mokgokong P, Pretorius C, Winter S, Labuschagne K, Kotze A, Prost S, Horin P, Dalton D, Burger PA. Diversity of selected toll-like receptor genes in cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) and African leopards (Panthera pardus pardus). Sci Rep 2024; 14:3756. [PMID: 38355905 PMCID: PMC10866938 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54076-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The anthropogenic impact on wildlife is ever increasing. With shrinking habitats, wild populations are being pushed to co-exist in proximity to humans leading to an increased threat of infectious diseases. Therefore, understanding the immune system of a species is key to assess its resilience in a changing environment. The innate immune system (IIS) is the body's first line of defense against pathogens. High variability in IIS genes, like toll-like receptor (TLR) genes, appears to be associated with resistance to infectious diseases. However, few studies have investigated diversity in TLR genes in vulnerable species for conservation. Large predators are threatened globally including leopards and cheetahs, both listed as 'vulnerable' by IUCN. To examine IIS diversity in these sympatric species, we used next-generation-sequencing to compare selected TLR genes in African leopards and cheetahs. Despite differences, both species show some TLR haplotype similarity. Historic cheetahs from all subspecies exhibit greater genetic diversity than modern Southern African cheetahs. The diversity in investigated TLR genes is lower in modern Southern African cheetahs than in African leopards. Compared to historic cheetah data and other subspecies, a more recent population decline might explain the observed genetic impoverishment of TLR genes in modern Southern African cheetahs. However, this may not yet impact the health of this cheetah subspecies.
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Affiliation(s)
- René Meißner
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - Prudent Mokgokong
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, National Zoological Garden, 232 Boom Street, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
| | - Chantelle Pretorius
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, National Zoological Garden, 232 Boom Street, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
- WWF South African, Bridge House, Boundary Terraces, Mariendahl Ave, Newlands, 7725, Capetown, South Africa
| | - Sven Winter
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kim Labuschagne
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, National Zoological Garden, 232 Boom Street, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
| | - Antoinette Kotze
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, National Zoological Garden, 232 Boom Street, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
- University of the Free State, Bloemfontein Campus, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
| | - Stefan Prost
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, National Zoological Garden, 232 Boom Street, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
- University of Oulu, Pentti Kaiteran Katu 1, 90570, Oulu, Finland
| | - Petr Horin
- Department of Animal Genetics, University of Veterinary Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
- Central European Institute of Technology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno (CEITEC Vetuni), Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Desire Dalton
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, National Zoological Garden, 232 Boom Street, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa.
- School of Health and Life Science, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, Tees Valley, TS1 3BX, UK.
| | - Pamela A Burger
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160, Vienna, Austria.
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DeAnglis IK, Andrews BR, Lock LR, Dyer KE, Yang A, Volokhov DV, Fenton MB, Simmons NB, Downs CJ, Becker DJ. Bat cellular immunity varies by year and dietary habit amidst land conversion. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 12:coad102. [PMID: 38293641 PMCID: PMC10823333 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coad102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Monitoring the health of wildlife populations is essential in the face of increased agricultural expansion and forest fragmentation. Loss of habitat and habitat degradation can negatively affect an animal's physiological state, possibly resulting in immunosuppression and increased morbidity or mortality. We sought to determine how land conversion may differentially impact cellular immunity and infection risk in Neotropical bats species regularly infected with bloodborne pathogens, and to evaluate how effects may vary over time and by dietary habit. We studied common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus), northern yellow-shouldered bats (Sturnira parvidens) and Mesoamerican mustached bats (Pteronotus mesoamericanus), representing the dietary habits of sanguivory, frugivory and insectivory respectively, in northern Belize. We compared estimated total white blood cell count, leukocyte differentials, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and infection status with two bloodborne bacterial pathogens (Bartonella spp. and hemoplasmas) of 118 bats captured in a broadleaf, secondary forest over three years (2017-2019). During this period, tree cover decreased by 14.5% while rangeland expanded by 14.3%, indicating increasing habitat loss and fragmentation. We found evidence for bat species-specific responses of cellular immunity between years, with neutrophil counts significantly decreasing in S. parvidens from 2017 to 2018, but marginally increasing in D. rotundus. However, the odds of infection with Bartonella spp. and hemoplasmas between 2017 and 2019 did not differ between bat species, contrary to our prediction that pathogen prevalence may increase with land conversion. We conclude that each bat species invested differently in cellular immunity in ways that changed over years of increasing habitat loss and fragmentation. We recommend further research on the interactions between land conversion, immunity and infection across dietary habits of Neotropical bats for informed management and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella K DeAnglis
- Department of Environmental Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, 1 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA
| | - Benjamin R Andrews
- Department of Environmental Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Lauren R Lock
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
| | - Kristin E Dyer
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
| | - Anni Yang
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, University of Oklahoma, 100 East Boyd St, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
| | - Dmitriy V Volokhov
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - M Brock Fenton
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Nancy B Simmons
- Department of Mammalogy, Division of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY, 10024, USA
| | - Cynthia J Downs
- Department of Environmental Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Daniel J Becker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Oklahoma, 730 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
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Gilbert BLP, Kessler SE. Could care giving have altered the evolution of human immune strategies? Evol Med Public Health 2024; 12:33-49. [PMID: 38380131 PMCID: PMC10878251 DOI: 10.1093/emph/eoae004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Life history theory indicates that individuals/species with a slow pace of life invest more in acquired than innate immunity. Factors that decrease the pace of life and predict greater investment in acquired immunity include increased nutritional resources, increased pathogen exposure and decreased risk of extrinsic mortality. Common care behaviors given to sick individuals produce exactly these effects: provisioning increases nutritional resources; hygiene assistance increases disease exposure of carers; and protection can reduce the risk of extrinsic mortality to sick individuals. This study, therefore, investigated under what conditions care giving behaviors might impact immune strategy and pace of life. The study employed an agent-based model approach that simulated populations with varying levels of care giving, disease mortality, disease transmissibility, and extrinsic mortality, enabling measurements of how the immune strategy and age structure of the populations changed over evolutionary time. We used multiple regressions to examine the effects of these variables on immune strategy and the age structure of the population. The findings supported our predictions that care was selected for an acquired immunity. However, the pace of life did not slow as expected. Instead, the population shifted to a faster, but also more cost-intensive reproductive strategy in which care improved child survival by subsidizing the development of acquired immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany L P Gilbert
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Sharon E Kessler
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
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6
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McDade TW. Three common assumptions about inflammation, aging, and health that are probably wrong. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2317232120. [PMID: 38064531 PMCID: PMC10740363 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2317232120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic inflammation contributes to the onset and progression of cardiovascular disease and other degenerative diseases of aging. But does it have to? This article considers the associations among inflammation, aging, and health through the lens of human population biology and suggests that chronic inflammation is not a normal nor inevitable component of aging. It is commonly assumed that conclusions drawn from research in affluent, industrialized countries can be applied globally; that aging processes leading to morbidity and mortality begin in middle age; and that inflammation is pathological. These foundational assumptions have shifted focus away from inflammation as a beneficial response to infection or injury and toward an understanding of inflammation as chronic, dysregulated, and dangerous. Findings from community-based studies around the world-many conducted in areas with relatively high burdens of infectious disease-challenge these assumptions by documenting substantial variation in levels of inflammation and patterns of association with disease. They also indicate that nutritional, microbial, and psychosocial environments in infancy and childhood play important roles in shaping inflammatory phenotypes and their contributions to diseases of aging. A comparative, developmental, and ecological approach has the potential to generate novel insights into the regulation of inflammation and how it relates to human health over the life course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W. McDade
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208
- Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208
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7
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Kim AW, Agarwal SC. From ancient pathogens to modern pandemics: Integrating evolutionary, ecological, and sociopolitical dynamics of infectious disease and pandemics through biological anthropology. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2023; 182:505-512. [PMID: 38006199 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Wooyoung Kim
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
- SAMRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Sabrina C Agarwal
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
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8
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Lin J, Namaky N, Costello M, Uchino BN, Allen JP, Coan JA. Social Regulation of the Neural Threat Response Predicts Subsequent Markers of Physical Health. Psychosom Med 2023; 85:763-771. [PMID: 37531617 PMCID: PMC10837312 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Social support has been linked to a vast range of beneficial health outcomes. However, the physiological mechanisms of social support are not well characterized. Drawing on functional magnetic resonance imaging and health-related outcome data, this study aimed to understand how neural measures of "yielding"-the reduction of brain activity during social support-moderate the link between social support and health. METHODS We used a data set where 78 participants around the age of 24 years were exposed to the threat of shock when holding the hand of a partner. At ages 28 to 30 years, participants returned for a health visit where inflammatory activity and heart rate variability were recorded. RESULTS Findings showed a significant interaction between dorsal anterior cingulate cortex-related yielding and perceived social support on C-reactive protein levels ( β = -0.95, SE = 0.42, z = -2.24, p = .025, 95% confidence interval = -1.77 to -0.12). We also found a significant interaction between hypothalamus-related yielding and perceived social support on baseline heart rate variability ( β = 0.51, SE = 0.23, z = 2.19, p = .028, 95% confidence interval = 0.05 to 0.97). CONCLUSIONS Greater perceived social support was associated with lower C-reactive protein levels and greater baseline heart rate variability among individuals who were more likely to yield to social support in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and hypothalamus years earlier. The current study highlights the construct of yielding in the link between social support and physical health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingrun Lin
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia
| | - Nauder Namaky
- Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and RR&D Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, Providence VA Medical Center
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9
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McDade TW, Ryan CP, Adair LS, Lee NR, Carba DB, MacIsaac JL, Dever K, Atashzay P, Kobor M, Kuzawa CW. Association between infectious exposures in infancy and epigenetic age acceleration in young adulthood in metropolitan Cebu, Philippines. Am J Hum Biol 2023; 35:e23948. [PMID: 37338007 PMCID: PMC10730771 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The drivers of human life expectancy gains over the past 200 years are not well-established, with a potential role for historical reductions in infectious disease. We investigate whether infectious exposures in infancy predict biological aging using DNA methylation-based markers that forecast patterns of morbidity and mortality later in life. METHODS N = 1450 participants from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey-a prospective birth cohort initiated in 1983-provided complete data for the analyses. Mean chronological age was 20.9 years when venous whole blood samples were drawn for DNA extraction and methylation analysis, with subsequent calculation of three epigenetic age markers: Horvath, GrimAge, and DunedinPACE. Unadjusted and adjusted least squares regression models were evaluated to test the hypothesis that infectious exposures in infancy are associated with epigenetic age. RESULTS Birth in the dry season, a proxy measure for increased infectious exposure in the first year of life, as well as the number of symptomatic infections in the first year of infancy, predicted lower epigenetic age. Infectious exposures were associated with the distribution of white blood cells in adulthood, which were also associated with measures of epigenetic age. CONCLUSIONS We document negative associations between measures of infectious exposure in infancy and DNA methylation-based measures of aging. Additional research, across a wider range of epidemiological settings, is needed to clarify the role of infectious disease in shaping immunophenotypes and trajectories of biological aging and human life expectancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W. McDade
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University,
Evanston, IL 60208
- Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University,
Evanston, IL 60208
| | - Calen P. Ryan
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Department of
Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
| | - Linda S. Adair
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public
Health, Carolina Population Center, CB #8120, University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill
| | - Nanette R. Lee
- Office of Population Studies Foundation, University of San
Carlos, Talamban, Cebu City Philippines
| | - Delia B. Carba
- Office of Population Studies Foundation, University of San
Carlos, Talamban, Cebu City Philippines
| | - Julia L. MacIsaac
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine,
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Edwin S.H. Leong Healthy Aging Program, University of
British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver,
British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Kristy Dever
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine,
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Edwin S.H. Leong Healthy Aging Program, University of
British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver,
British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Parmida Atashzay
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine,
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Edwin S.H. Leong Healthy Aging Program, University of
British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver,
British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Mike Kobor
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine,
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Edwin S.H. Leong Healthy Aging Program, University of
British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver,
British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Christopher W. Kuzawa
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University,
Evanston, IL 60208
- Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University,
Evanston, IL 60208
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10
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Minias P, Peng WXVH, Matson KD. Evolutionary trade-off between innate and acquired immune defences in birds. Front Zool 2023; 20:32. [PMID: 37684615 PMCID: PMC10486109 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-023-00511-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The development, maintenance, and use of immune defences are costly. Therefore, animals face trade-offs in terms of resource allocation within their immune system and between their immune system and other physiological processes. To maximize fitness, evolution may favour investment in one immunological defence or subsystem over another in a way that matches a species broader life history strategy. Here, we used phylogenetically-informed comparative analyses to test for relationships between two immunological components. Natural antibodies and complement were used as proxies for the innate branch; structural complexity of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region was used for the acquired branch. RESULTS We found a negative association between the levels of natural antibodies (i.e., haemagglutination titre) and the total MHC gene copy number across the avian phylogeny, both at the species and family level. The family-level analysis indicated that this association was apparent for both MHC-I and MHC-II, when copy numbers within these two MHC regions were analysed separately. The association remained significant after controlling for basic life history components and for ecological traits commonly linked to pathogen exposure. CONCLUSION Our results provide the first phylogenetically robust evidence for an evolutionary trade-off within the avian immune system, with a more developed acquired immune system (i.e., more complex MHC architecture) in more derived bird lineages (e.g., passerines) being accompanied by an apparent downregulation of the innate immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Minias
- Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Łódź, Banacha 1/3, 90-237, Łódź, Poland.
| | - Wei-Xuan V-H Peng
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708PB, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Kevin D Matson
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708PB, Wageningen, Netherlands
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11
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Anderson CC, Bonney EA, Mueller TF, Corthay A, Havele C, Singh NJ, Øynebråten I, Bretscher PA. On antigen-specific signals, immune class regulation and energetics: Report III from the workshops on foundational concepts of immune regulation. Scand J Immunol 2023; 98:e13311. [PMID: 38112131 DOI: 10.1111/sji.13311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
This is a report from a one-week workshop held in Athens, Greece in July of 2022. The workshop aimed to identify emerging concepts relevant to the fundamentals of immune regulation and areas for future research. Theories of immune regulation emphasize the role of T cell help or co-stimulation (signal 2). The workshop participants considered how new data on the characteristics of agonist antigens, the role of the antigen receptor signals (signal 1) in driving fate decisions, the effect of energetics on immunity and a better understanding of class-control in the immune response, may impact theories of immune regulation. These ideas were discussed in the context of tumour immunology, autoimmunity, pregnancy and transplantation. Here we present the discussions as a narrative of different viewpoints to allow the reader to join the conversation. These discussions highlight the evolving understanding of the nature of specific antigen recognition and how both antigen-specific and non-specific mechanisms impact immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin C Anderson
- Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Diabetes and Transplant Institutes, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Elizabeth A Bonney
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Vermont, Larner College of medicine, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Thomas F Mueller
- Clinic of Nephrology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Corthay
- Tumor Immunology Lab, Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Hybrid Technology Hub - Centre of Excellence, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Calliopi Havele
- Dept of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Nevil J Singh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Inger Øynebråten
- Tumor Immunology Lab, Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Hybrid Technology Hub - Centre of Excellence, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Peter A Bretscher
- Dept of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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Zhang L, Park JJ, Dong MB, Arsala D, Xia S, Chen J, Sosa D, Atlas JE, Long M, Chen S. Human gene age dating reveals an early and rapid evolutionary construction of the adaptive immune system. Genome Biol Evol 2023; 15:evad081. [PMID: 37170918 PMCID: PMC10210621 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
T cells are a type of white blood cell that play a critical role in the immune response against foreign pathogens through a process called T Cell Adaptive Immunity (TCAI). However, the evolution of the genes and nucleotide sequences involved in TCAI is not well understood. To investigate this, we performed comparative studies of gene annotations and genome assemblies of 28 vertebrate species and identified sets of human genes that are involved in TCAI, carcinogenesis, and ageing. We found that these gene sets share interaction pathways which may have contributed to the evolution of longevity in the vertebrate lineage leading to humans. Our human gene age dating analyses revealed that there was rapid origination of genes with TCAI-related functions prior to the Cretaceous eutherian radiation and these new genes mainly encode negative regulators. We identified no new TCAI-related genes after the divergence of placental mammals, but we did detect an extensive number of amino acid substitutions under strong positive selection in recently evolved human immunity genes suggesting they are co-evolving with adaptive immunity. More specifically, we observed that antigen processing and presentation and checkpoint genes are significantly enriched among new genes evolving under positive selection. These observations reveal an evolutionary process of T Cell Adaptive Immunity that were associated with rapid gene duplication in the early stages of vertebrates and subsequent sequence changes in TCAI-related genes. These processes together suggest an early genetic construction of the vertebrate immune system and subsequent molecular adaptation to diverse antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhang
- System Biology Institute, Integrated Science & Technology Center, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology, Integrated Science & Technology Center, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Yale M.D.-Ph.D. Program, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jonathan J Park
- System Biology Institute, Integrated Science & Technology Center, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology, Integrated Science & Technology Center, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Yale M.D.-Ph.D. Program, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Matthew B Dong
- System Biology Institute, Integrated Science & Technology Center, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology, Integrated Science & Technology Center, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Yale M.D.-Ph.D. Program, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Immunobiology Program, The Anlyan Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Immunobiology, The Anlyan Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Deanna Arsala
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Shengqian Xia
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jianhai Chen
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Dylan Sosa
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jared E Atlas
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Committee on Genetics, Genomics and Systems Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Manyuan Long
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Sidi Chen
- System Biology Institute, Integrated Science & Technology Center, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Center for Cancer Systems Biology, Integrated Science & Technology Center, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Yale M.D.-Ph.D. Program, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Immunobiology Program, The Anlyan Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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13
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Hagen EH, Blackwell AD, Lightner AD, Sullivan RJ. Homo medicus: The transition to meat eating increased pathogen pressure and the use of pharmacological plants in Homo. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2023; 180:589-617. [PMID: 36815505 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
The human lineage transitioned to a more carnivorous niche 2.6 mya and evolved a large body size and slower life history, which likely increased zoonotic pathogen pressure. Evidence for this increase includes increased zoonotic infections in modern hunter-gatherers and bushmeat hunters, exceptionally low stomach pH compared to other primates, and divergence in immune-related genes. These all point to change, and probably intensification, in the infectious disease environment of Homo compared to earlier hominins and other apes. At the same time, the brain, an organ in which immune responses are constrained, began to triple in size. We propose that the combination of increased zoonotic pathogen pressure and the challenges of defending a large brain and body from pathogens in a long-lived mammal, selected for intensification of the plant-based self-medication strategies already in place in apes and other primates. In support, there is evidence of medicinal plant use by hominins in the middle Paleolithic, and all cultures today have sophisticated, plant-based medical systems, add spices to food, and regularly consume psychoactive plant substances that are harmful to helminths and other pathogens. We propose that the computational challenges of discovering effective plant-based treatments, the consequent ability to consume more energy-rich animal foods, and the reduced reliance on energetically-costly immune responses helped select for increased cognitive abilities and unique exchange relationships in Homo. In the story of human evolution, which has long emphasized hunting skills, medical skills had an equal role to play.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward H Hagen
- Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Aaron D Blackwell
- Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Aaron D Lightner
- Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
- Department of the Study of Religion, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Roger J Sullivan
- Department of Anthropology, California State University, Sacramento, California, USA
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14
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Wu D, Bi X, Li P, Xu D, Qiu J, Li K, Zheng S, Chow KHM. Enhanced insulin-regulated phagocytic activities support extreme health span and longevity in multiple populations. Aging Cell 2023; 22:e13810. [PMID: 36883688 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The immune system plays a central role in many processes of age-related disorders and it remains unclear if the innate immune system may play roles in shaping extreme longevity. By an integrated analysis with multiple bulk and single cell transcriptomic, so as DNA methylomic datasets of white blood cells, a previously unappreciated yet commonly activated status of the innate monocyte phagocytic activities is identified. Detailed analyses revealed that the life cycle of these monocytes is enhanced and primed to a M2-like macrophage phenotype. Functional characterization unexpectedly revealed an insulin-driven immunometabolic network which supports multiple aspects of phagocytosis. Such reprogramming is associated to a skewed trend of DNA demethylation at the promoter regions of multiple phagocytic genes, so as a direct transcriptional effect induced by nuclear-localized insulin receptor. Together, these highlighted that preservation of insulin sensitivity is a key to healthy lifespan and extended longevity, via boosting the function of innate immune system in advanced ages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deng Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Xiaoman Bi
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Information and Engineering, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Cardiovascular Diseases Research of Hainan Province, Tumor Institute of The First Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Women and Children Medical Center, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Peihu Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Information and Engineering, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Dahua Xu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Information and Engineering, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Jianmin Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Cardiovascular Diseases Research of Hainan Province, Tumor Institute of The First Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Women and Children Medical Center, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Kongning Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Information and Engineering, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Shaojiang Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Cardiovascular Diseases Research of Hainan Province, Tumor Institute of The First Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Women and Children Medical Center, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Kim Hei-Man Chow
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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15
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Urlacher SS. The energetics of childhood: Current knowledge and insights into human variation, evolution, and health. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 36866969 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
How organisms capture and ultimately use metabolic energy-a limiting resource of life-has profound implications for understanding evolutionary legacies and current patterns of phenotypic variation, adaptation, and health. Energetics research among humans has a rich history in biological anthropology and beyond. The energetics of childhood, however, remains relatively underexplored. This shortcoming is notable given the accepted importance of childhood in the evolution of the unique human life history pattern as well as the known sensitivity of childhood development to local environments and lived experiences. In this review, I have three objectives: (1) To overview current knowledge regarding how children acquire and use energy, highlighting work among diverse human populations and pointing to recent advances and remaining areas of uncertainty; (2) To discuss key applications of this knowledge for understanding human variation, evolution, and health; (3) To recommend future avenues for research. A growing body of evidence supports a model of trade-offs and constraint in childhood energy expenditure. This model, combined with advancements on topics such as the energetics of immune activity, the brain, and the gut, provides insights into the evolution of extended human subadulthood and the nature of variation in childhood development, lifetime phenotype, and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel S Urlacher
- Department of Anthropology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
- Child and Brain Development Program, CIFAR, Toronto, Canada
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16
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Slavich GM, Roos LG, Mengelkoch S, Webb CA, Shattuck EC, Moriarity DP, Alley JC. Social Safety Theory: Conceptual foundation, underlying mechanisms, and future directions. Health Psychol Rev 2023; 17:5-59. [PMID: 36718584 PMCID: PMC10161928 DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2023.2171900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Classic theories of stress and health are largely based on assumptions regarding how different psychosocial stressors influence biological processes that, in turn, affect human health and behavior. Although theoretically rich, this work has yielded little consensus and led to numerous conceptual, measurement, and reproducibility issues. Social Safety Theory aims to address these issues by using the primary goal and regulatory logic of the human brain and immune system as the basis for specifying the social-environmental situations to which these systems should respond most strongly to maximize reproductive success and survival. This analysis gave rise to the integrated, multi-level formulation described herein, which transforms thinking about stress biology and provides a biologically based, evolutionary account for how and why experiences of social safety and social threat are strongly related to health, well-being, aging, and longevity. In doing so, the theory advances a testable framework for investigating the biopsychosocial roots of health disparities as well as how health-relevant biopsychosocial processes crystalize over time and how perceptions of the social environment interact with childhood microbial environment, birth cohort, culture, air pollution, genetics, sleep, diet, personality, and self-harm to affect health. The theory also highlights several interventions for reducing social threat and promoting resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- George M. Slavich
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lydia G. Roos
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Summer Mengelkoch
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christian A. Webb
- McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eric C. Shattuck
- Institute for Health Disparities Research and Department of Public Health, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Daniel P. Moriarity
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jenna C. Alley
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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17
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Olsen L, Hassan H, Keaton S, Rohner N. The Mexican Cavefish Mount a Rapid and Sustained Regenerative Response Following Skeletal Muscle Injury. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.05.527207. [PMID: 36778484 PMCID: PMC9915744 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.05.527207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Physical injury and tissue damage is prevalent throughout the animal kingdom, with the ability to quickly and efficiently regenerate providing a selective advantage. The skeletal muscle possesses a uniquely large regenerative capacity within most vertebrates, and has thus become an important model for investigating cellular processes underpinning tissue regeneration. Following damage, the skeletal muscle mounts a complex regenerative cascade centered around dedicated muscle stem cells termed satellite cells. In non-injured muscle, satellite cells remain in a quiescent state, expressing the canonical marker Pax7 (Chen et al. 2020). However, following injury, satellite cells exit quiescence, enter the cell cycle to initiate proliferation, asymmetrically divide, and in many cases terminally differentiate into myoblasts, ultimately fusing with surrounding myoblasts and pre-existing muscle fibers to resolve the regenerative process (Chen et al. 2020).
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Olsen
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA,Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Huzaifa Hassan
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Sarah Keaton
- Department of Biological Sciences, DePaul University, Chicago, IL 60614, USA
| | - Nicolas Rohner
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA,Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA,Correspondence: Nicolas Rohner
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18
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Sasser KT, Weber JN. A Call For More Ecologically And Evolutionarily Relevant Studies of Immune Costs. Evol Ecol 2023; 37:203-214. [PMID: 37608798 PMCID: PMC10443930 DOI: 10.1007/s10682-022-10213-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
What are the relative costs and benefits of mounting immune responses? Practitioners of ecoimmunology have grappled with this central question since the field's inception with the main tension being how to make tractable methodological choices that maintain the ecological relevance of induced and measured immune costs. Here, we point out two methodological approaches that we feel are underrepresented in the field, describe risks associated with neglecting these methods, and suggest modern techniques that maximize both the diversity and ecological relevance of collected data. First, it is commonly assumed that frequently used and experimentally convenient immune stimulants will induce ecologically relevant immune responses in study organisms. This can be a dangerous assumption. Even if a stimulant's general immune response properties are well characterized, it is critical to also measure the type and scale of immune responses induced by live pathogens. Second, patterns of immune defenses evolve like other traits, thus a comparative approach is essential to understand what forces shape immune variation. Finally, we describe modern genetic and immunological approaches that will soon become essential tools for ecoimmunologists, and present case studies that exemplify the utility of our recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristofer Trey Sasser
- University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, USA. Current address: University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- 430 Lincoln Dr, Birge Hall, Madison WI, 53706
| | - Jesse N Weber
- University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- 430 Lincoln Dr, Birge Hall, Madison WI, 53706
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19
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Carbillet J, Hollain M, Rey B, Palme R, Pellerin M, Regis C, Geffré A, Duhayer J, Pardonnet S, Debias F, Merlet J, Lemaître JF, Verheyden H, Gilot-Fromont E. Age and spatio-temporal variations in food resources modulate stress-immunity relationships in three populations of wild roe deer. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 330:114141. [PMID: 36272446 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2022.114141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Living in variable and unpredictable environments, organisms face recurrent stressful situations. The endocrine stress response, which includes the secretion of glucocorticoids, helps organisms to cope with these perturbations. Although short-term elevations of glucocorticoid levels are often associated with immediate beneficial consequences for individuals, long-term glucocorticoid elevation can compromise key physiological functions such as immunity. While laboratory works highlighted the immunosuppressive effect of long-term elevated glucocorticoids, it remains largely unknown, especially in wild animals, whether this relationship is modulated by individual and environmental characteristics. In this study, we explored the co-variation between integrated cortisol levels, assessed non-invasively using faecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs), and 12 constitutive indices of innate, inflammatory, and adaptive immune functions, in wild roe deer living in three populations with previously known contrasting environmental conditions. Using longitudinal data on 564 individuals, we further investigated whether age and spatio-temporal variations in the quantity and quality of food resources modulate the relationship between FCMs and immunity. Negative covariation with glucocorticoids was evident only for innate and inflammatory markers of immunity, while adaptive immunity appeared to be positively or not linked to glucocorticoids. In addition, the negative covariations were generally stronger in individuals facing harsh environmental constraints and in old individuals. Therefore, our results highlight the importance of measuring multiple immune markers of immunity in individuals from contrasted environments to unravel the complex relationships between glucocorticoids and immunity in wild animals. Our results also help explain conflicting results found in the literature and could improve our understanding of the link between elevated glucocorticoid levels and disease spread, and its consequences on population dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Carbillet
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, Castanet Tolosan, 31326, France; LTSER ZA PYRénées GARonne, Auzeville-Tolosane, 31320, France; Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Marcy-l'Etoile, 69280, France; Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu 51014, Estonia.
| | - Marine Hollain
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne Cedex 69100, France; Office Français de la biodiversité, Direction de la Recherche et de l'Appui Scientifique, Service Conservation et Gestion Durable des Espèces Exploitées, Chateauvillain 52210, France
| | - Benjamin Rey
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne Cedex 69100, France
| | - Rupert Palme
- Unit of Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna 1210, Austria
| | - Maryline Pellerin
- Office Français de la biodiversité, Direction de la Recherche et de l'Appui Scientifique, Service Conservation et Gestion Durable des Espèces Exploitées, Chateauvillain 52210, France
| | - Corinne Regis
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne Cedex 69100, France
| | - Anne Geffré
- Equipe de Biologie médicale-Histologie, CREFRE, Inserm-UPS-ENVT, Toulouse 31000, France
| | - Jeanne Duhayer
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne Cedex 69100, France
| | - Sylvia Pardonnet
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne Cedex 69100, France
| | - François Debias
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne Cedex 69100, France
| | - Joël Merlet
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, Castanet Tolosan, 31326, France; LTSER ZA PYRénées GARonne, Auzeville-Tolosane, 31320, France
| | | | - Hélène Verheyden
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, Castanet Tolosan, 31326, France; LTSER ZA PYRénées GARonne, Auzeville-Tolosane, 31320, France
| | - Emmanuelle Gilot-Fromont
- Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Marcy-l'Etoile, 69280, France; Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne Cedex 69100, France
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20
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Kuzawa CW, Ryan CP, Adair LS, Lee NR, Carba DB, MacIsaac JL, Dever K, Atashzay P, Kobor MS, McDade TW. Birth weight and maternal energy status during pregnancy as predictors of epigenetic age acceleration in young adults from metropolitan Cebu, Philippines. Epigenetics 2022; 17:1535-1545. [PMID: 35574972 PMCID: PMC9586628 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2022.2070105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic clocks quantify regular changes in DNA methylation that occur with age, or in relation to biomarkers of ageing, and are strong predictors of morbidity and mortality. Here, we assess whether measures of fetal nutrition and growth that predict adult chronic disease also predict accelerated biological ageing in young adulthood using a suite of commonly used epigenetic clocks. Data come from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey (CLHNS), a long-running cohort followed since birth in metropolitan Cebu, Philippines. Past work has shown that birth weight (BW) and the mother's arm fat during pregnancy (a measure of pregnancy energy status) relate inversely to health outcomes in the CLHNS but primarily in males. Genome-wide DNA methylation was assessed in whole blood using the Infinium EPIC array. Participants included males (n=895) and females (n=803) measured in 2005 (20.8-22.5 years). Clocks included the Hannum and Horvath clocks trained on chronological age, the DNAmPhenoAge and DNAmGrimAge clocks trained on clinical biomarkers, the Dunedin pace of ageing (DunedinPACE) clock trained on longitudinal changes in ageing biomarkers, and the DNAmTL clock trained on leukocyte telomere length. In males, lower BW predicted advanced biological ageing using the Hannum, DNAmPhenoAge, DunedinPoAm, and DNAmTL clocks. In contrast, BW did not predict any clock in female participants. Participants' mothers' pregnancy arm fat only predicted DNAmTL in males. These findings suggest that epigenetic clocks are a useful tool for gauging long-term outcomes predicted by fetal growth, and add to existing evidence in the CLHNS for sex differences in these relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher W Kuzawa
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA.,Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA
| | - Calen P Ryan
- Butler Columbia Aging Center, Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
| | - Linda S Adair
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Nanette R Lee
- USC-Office of Population Studies Foundation, University of San Carlos, Talamban, Cebu City
| | - Delia B Carba
- USC-Office of Population Studies Foundation, University of San Carlos, Talamban, Cebu City
| | - Julia L MacIsaac
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Kristy Dever
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Parmida Atashzay
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Michael S Kobor
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Thomas W McDade
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA.,Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA
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21
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DeCaro JA, Helfrecht C. Applying minimally invasive biomarkers of chronic stress across complex ecological contexts. Am J Hum Biol 2022; 34:e23814. [PMID: 36201446 PMCID: PMC9788276 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic stress is both theoretically and methodologically challenging to operationalize through biomarkers. Yet minimally invasive, field-friendly biomarkers of chronic stress are valuable in research linking biology and culture, seeking to understand differential patterns of human development across ecological contexts, and exploring the evolution of human sociality. For human biologists, a central question in measurement and interpretation of biomarkers is how stress-responsive physiological systems are regulated across diverse human ecologies. This article aims to describe a conditional toolkit for human biologists interested in the study of chronic stress, highlighting a mix of longstanding and novel biomarkers, with special focus on hair/fingernail cortisol, latent herpesvirus antibodies, allostatic load indices, and serial/ambulatory data collection approaches. Future trends in chronic stress biomarker research, including epigenetic approaches, are briefly considered. This overview considers: (1) challenges in separating a distinctly psychosocial dimension of chronic stress from adversity more broadly; (2) essential characteristics of human ecology that shape interpretation; (3) retrospective vs. longitudinal sampling; (4) the role of age, developmental effects, and local biologies; (5) different timescales of chronicity; and (6) the role of culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason A. DeCaro
- Department of AnthropologyThe University of AlabamaTuscaloosaAlabamaUSA
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22
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Blackwell AD, Garcia AR. Ecoimmunology in the field: Measuring multiple dimensions of immune function with minimally invasive, field-adapted techniques. Am J Hum Biol 2022; 34:e23784. [PMID: 35861267 PMCID: PMC9786696 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Immune function is multifaceted and characterizations based on single biomarkers may be uninformative or misleading, particularly when considered across ecological contexts. However, measuring the many facets of immunity in the field can be challenging, since many measures cannot be obtained on-site, necessitating sample preservation and transport. Here we assess state-of-the-art methods for measuring immunity, focusing on measures that require a minimal blood sample obtained from a finger prick, which can be: (1) dried on filter paper, (2) frozen in liquid nitrogen, or (3) stabilized with chemical reagents. RESULTS We review immune measures that can be obtained from point-of-care devices or from immunoassays of dried blood spots (DBSs), field methods for flow cytometry, the use of RNA or DNA sequencing and quantification, and the application of immune activation assays under field conditions. CONCLUSIONS Stable protein products, such as immunoglobulins and C-reactive protein are reliably measured in DBSs. Because less stable proteins, such as cytokines, may be problematic to measure even in fresh blood, mRNA from stabilized blood may provide a cleaner measure of cytokine and broader immune-related gene expression. Gene methylation assays or mRNA sequencing also allow for the quantification of many other parameters, including the inference of leukocyte subsets, though with less accuracy than with flow cytometry. Combining these techniques provides an improvement over single-marker studies, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of how social and ecological variables are linked to immune measures and disease risk in diverse populations and settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron D. Blackwell
- Department of AnthropologyWashington State UniversityPullmanWashingtonUSA
| | - Angela R. Garcia
- Research DepartmentPhoenix Children's HospitalPhoenixArizonaUSA,Department of Child HealthUniversity of Arizona College of MedicinePhoenixArizonaUSA
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Rosengaus R, Traniello J, Bakker T. Sociality and disease: behavioral perspectives in ecological and evolutionary immunology. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022; 76:98. [PMID: 35821673 PMCID: PMC9263030 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03203-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Rosengaus
- Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115-5000 USA
| | - James Traniello
- Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215 USA
| | - Theo Bakker
- Institute for Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
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24
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Lucore JM, Marshall AJ, Brosnan SF, Benítez ME. Validating Urinary Neopterin as a Biomarker of Immune Response in Captive and Wild Capuchin Monkeys. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:918036. [PMID: 35909690 PMCID: PMC9326447 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.918036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive health monitoring is advantageous for wild and captive primate populations because it reduces the need for traditional invasive techniques (i.e., anesthetization) that can be stressful and potentially harmful for individuals. The biomarker neopterin is an emerging tool in primatology to measure immune activation and immunosenescence, however, most neopterin studies have focused on catarrhine species with little comparative work examining neopterin and health in platyrrhines. To address this gap, we validated a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure urinary neopterin in two types of capuchin monkeys, a wild population of white-faced capuchins (Cebus imitator) and a socially housed captive colony of tufted capuchins (Sapajus apella). We analytically validated methods for measuring urinary neopterin in two capuchin populations and demonstrated that two commonly-used methods to control for urine concentration-creatinine and specific gravity (SG)-produced highly concordant results. We also biologically validated these methods by examining variation in neopterin levels based on environment (captive and wild) and age, and changes in levels associated with immune-response. We found that neopterin increased after immune perturbation (rabies vaccine booster), varied by environmental condition, and mirrored expected trends in immune system ontogeny. Our results improve understanding of the innate immune system in platyrrhine species and suggest neopterin may be useful for non-invasive health monitoring in both captive and wild primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan M. Lucore
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Capuchinos de Taboga Research Project, Taboga Forest Reserve, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
| | - Andrew J. Marshall
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Program in the Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Sarah F. Brosnan
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Language Research Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Marcela E. Benítez
- Capuchinos de Taboga Research Project, Taboga Forest Reserve, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
- Language Research Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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25
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Klasson CL, Sadhir S, Pontzer H. Daily physical activity is negatively associated with thyroid hormone levels, inflammation, and immune system markers among men and women in the NHANES dataset. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0270221. [PMID: 35793317 PMCID: PMC9258892 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The acute effects of exercise on metabolic energy expenditure and inflammation are well studied, but the long-term effects of regular daily physical activity on metabolic and endocrine effects are less clear. Further, prior studies investigating the impact of daily physical activity in large cohorts have generally relied on self-reported activity. Here, we used the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to investigate the relationship between daily physical activity and both thyroid and immune activity. Daily physical activity was assessed through accelerometry or accelerometry-validated survey responses. Thyroid activity was assessed from circulating levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine (T4). Immune function was assessed from circulating cytokines (C-reactive protein [CRP], immunoglobulin E [IgE], fibrinogen) and blood cell counts. In general linear models including body mass index, age, gender, activity and TSH as factors, active adults had a lower levels of T4 and reduced slope of the TSH:T4 relationship. Similarly, greater physical activity was associated with lower CRP and fibrinogen levels (but not IgE) and lower white blood cell, basophil, monocyte, neutrophil, and eosinophil (but not lymphocyte) counts. Daily physical activity was also associated with lower prevalence of clinically elevated CRP, WBC, and lymphocytes in a dose-response manner. These results underscore the long-term impact of daily physical activity on both systemic metabolic activity (thyroid) and on specific physiological tasks (immune). The regulatory effects of physical activity on other bodily systems are clinically relevant and should be incorporated into public health strategies promoting exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher L. Klasson
- Trinity College, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail: (CLK); (HP)
| | - Srishti Sadhir
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Herman Pontzer
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail: (CLK); (HP)
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26
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Aronoff JE, Quinn EB, Forde AT, Glover LM, Reiner A, McDade TW, Sims M. Associations between perceived discrimination and immune cell composition in the Jackson Heart Study. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 103:28-36. [PMID: 35381348 PMCID: PMC9149129 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
African American adults suffer disproportionately from several non-communicable and infectious diseases. Among numerous contributing factors, perceived discrimination is considered a stressor for members of historically marginalized groups that contributes to health risk, although biological pathways are incompletely understood. Previous studies have reported associations between stress and both an up-regulation of non-specific (innate) inflammation and down-regulation of specific (adaptive) immunity. While associations between perceived discrimination and markers of inflammation have been explored, it is unclear if this is part of an overall shift that also includes down-regulated adaptive immunity. Relying on a large cross-section of African American adults (n = 3,319) from the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) in Jackson, Mississippi, we tested whether perceived everyday and lifetime discrimination as well as perceived burden from lifetime discrimination were associated with counts of neutrophils (innate), monocytes (innate), lymphocytes (adaptive), and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), derived from complete white blood cell counts with differential. In addition, DNA methylation (DNAm) was measured on the EPIC array in a sub-sample (n = 1,023) of participants, allowing estimation of CD4T, CD8T and B lymphocyte proportions. Unexpectedly, high lifetime discrimination compared to low was significantly associated with lower neutrophils (b : -0.14, [95% CI: -0.24, -0.04]) and a lower NLR (b : -0.15, [95% CI: -0.25, -0.05]) after controlling for confounders. However, high perceived burden from lifetime discrimination was significantly associated with higher neutrophils (b : 0.17, [95% CI: 0.05, 0.30]) and a higher NLR (b : 0.16, [95% CI: 0.03, 0.29]). High perceived burden was also associated with lower lymphocytes among older men, which our analysis suggested might have been attributable to differences in CD4T cells. These findings highlight immune function as a potentially important pathway linking perceived discrimination to health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob E Aronoff
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
| | - Edward B Quinn
- Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Allana T Forde
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Láshauntá M Glover
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Alexander Reiner
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Thomas W McDade
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Mario Sims
- Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
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27
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Bichet C, Régis C, Gilot-Fromont E, Cohas A. Variations in immune parameters with age in a wild rodent population and links with survival. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9094. [PMID: 35845372 PMCID: PMC9273568 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent findings suggest that immune functions do not unidirectionally deteriorate with age but that a potentially adaptive remodeling, where functions of the immune system get downregulated while others get upregulated with age could also occur. Scarce in wild populations, longitudinal studies are yet necessary to properly understand the patterns and consequences of age variations of the immune system in the wild. Meanwhile, it is challenging to understand if the observed variations in immune parameters with age are due to changes at the within‐individual level or to selective (dis)appearance of individuals with peculiar immune phenotypes. Thanks to a long‐term and longitudinal monitoring of a wild Alpine marmot population, we aimed to understand within‐ and between‐individual variation in the immune phenotype with age, in order to improve our knowledge about the occurrence and the evolutionary consequences of such age variations in the wild. To do so, we recorded the age‐specific leukocyte concentration and leukocyte profile in repeatedly sampled dominant individuals. We then tested whether the potential changes with age were attributable to within‐individual variations and/or selective (dis)appearance. Finally, we investigated if the leukocyte concentration and profiles were correlated to the probability of death at a given age. The leukocyte concentration was stable with age, but the relative number of lymphocytes decreased, while the relative number of neutrophils increased, over the course of an individual's life. Moreover, between individuals of the same age, individuals with fewer lymphocytes but more neutrophils were more likely to die. Therefore, selective disappearance seems to play a role in the age variations of the immune parameters in this population. Further investigations linking age variations in immune phenotype to individual fitness are needed to understand whether remodeling of the immune system with age could or could not be adaptive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coraline Bichet
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé CNRS-La Rochelle Université Villiers-en-Bois France.,Institut für Vogelforschung "Vogelwarte Helgoland" (Institute of Avian Research) Wilhelmshaven Germany.,UMR-CNRS 5558, Laboratoire Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Villeurbanne France
| | - Corinne Régis
- UMR-CNRS 5558, Laboratoire Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Villeurbanne France
| | - Emmanuelle Gilot-Fromont
- UMR-CNRS 5558, Laboratoire Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Villeurbanne France.,Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup Marcy-l'Etoile France
| | - Aurélie Cohas
- UMR-CNRS 5558, Laboratoire Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Villeurbanne France.,Institut Universitaire de France (IUF) Paris France
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28
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Lee W, Milewski TM, Dwortz MF, Young RL, Gaudet AD, Fonken LK, Champagne FA, Curley JP. Distinct immune and transcriptomic profiles in dominant versus subordinate males in mouse social hierarchies. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 103:130-144. [PMID: 35447300 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Social status is a critical factor determining health outcomes in human and nonhuman social species. In social hierarchies with reproductive skew, individuals compete to monopolize resources and increase mating opportunities. This can come at a significant energetic cost leading to trade-offs between different physiological systems. In particular, changes in energetic investment in the immune system can have significant short and long-term effects on fitness and health. We have previously found that dominant alpha male mice living in social hierarchies have increased metabolic demands related to territorial defense. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that high-ranking male mice favor adaptive immunity, while subordinate mice show higher investment in innate immunity. We housed 12 groups of 10 outbred CD-1 male mice in a social housing system. All formed linear social hierarchies and subordinate mice had higher concentrations of plasma corticosterone (CORT) than alpha males. This difference was heightened in highly despotic hierarchies. Using flow cytometry, we found that dominant status was associated with a significant shift in immunophenotypes towards favoring adaptive versus innate immunity. Using Tag-Seq to profile hepatic and splenic transcriptomes of alpha and subordinate males, we identified genes that regulate metabolic and immune defense pathways that are associated with status and/or CORT concentration. In the liver, dominant animals showed a relatively higher expression of specific genes involved in major urinary production and catabolic processes, whereas subordinate animals showed relatively higher expression of genes promoting biosynthetic processes, wound healing, and proinflammatory responses. In spleen, subordinate mice showed relatively higher expression of genes facilitating oxidative phosphorylation and DNA repair and CORT was negatively associated with genes involved in lymphocyte proliferation and activation. Together, our findings suggest that dominant and subordinate animals adaptively shift immune profiles and peripheral gene expression to match their contextual needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won Lee
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Department of In Vivo Pharmacology Services, The Jackson Laboratory, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Tyler M Milewski
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Madeleine F Dwortz
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Rebecca L Young
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Andrew D Gaudet
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Laura K Fonken
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | | | - James P Curley
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
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29
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Carbillet J, Rey B, Palme R, Monestier C, Börger L, Lavabre T, Maublanc ML, Cebe N, Rames JL, Le Loc'h G, Wasniewski M, Rannou B, Gilot-Fromont E, Verheyden H. Covariation between glucocorticoids, behaviour and immunity supports the pace-of-life syndrome hypothesis: an experimental approach. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220464. [PMID: 35611533 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The biomedical literature has consistently highlighted that long-term elevation of glucocorticoids might impair immune functions. However, patterns are less clear in wild animals. Here, we re-explored the stress-immunity relationship considering the potential effects of behavioural profiles. Thirteen captive roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) were monitored over an eight-week period encompassing two capture events. We assessed how changes in baseline faecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) concentrations following a standardized capture protocol and an immune challenge using anti-rabies vaccination affected changes in 13 immune parameters of innate and adaptive immunity, and whether these changes in baseline FCM levels and immune parameters related to behavioural profiles. We found that individuals with increased baseline FCM levels also exhibited increased immunity and were characterized by more reactive behavioural profiles (low activity levels, docility to manipulation and neophilia). Our results suggest that the immunity of large mammals may be influenced by glucocorticoids, but also behavioural profiles, as it is predicted by the pace-of-life syndrome hypothesis. Our results highlight the need to consider covariations between behaviour, immunity and glucocorticoids in order to improve our understanding of the among-individual variability in the stress-immunity relationships observed in wildlife, as they may be underpinned by different life-history strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Carbillet
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, Castanet Tolosan 31326, France.,Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Marcy-l'Etoile, France
| | - Benjamin Rey
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Rupert Palme
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna 1210, Austria
| | | | - Luca Börger
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, UK
| | - Typhaine Lavabre
- Equipe de Biologie médicale-Histologie, CREFRE, Inserm-UPS-ENVT, Toulouse, France.,Inovie Vet, Laboratoire d'Analyses et Biologie Vétérinaires, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Nicolas Cebe
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, Castanet Tolosan 31326, France
| | - Jean-Luc Rames
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, Castanet Tolosan 31326, France
| | | | | | - Benoit Rannou
- Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Marcy-l'Etoile, France
| | - Emmanuelle Gilot-Fromont
- Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Marcy-l'Etoile, France.,Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Hélène Verheyden
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, Castanet Tolosan 31326, France
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30
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Pikus E, Dunn PO, Minias P. High MHC diversity confers no advantage for phenotypic quality and reproductive performance in a wild bird. J Anim Ecol 2022; 91:1707-1718. [PMID: 35521665 PMCID: PMC9542035 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
1. Genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) encode antigen binding molecules and are an integral part of the acquired immune response of vertebrates. In general, high individual MHC diversity is expected to increase fitness by broadening the spectrum of pathogens recognized by the immune system, in accordance with the heterozygote advantage mechanism. On the other hand, the optimality hypothesis assumes that individuals with optimal (intermediate), rather than maximum diversity of the MHC will achieve the highest fitness because of inherent costs associated with expressing diverse MHC alleles. 2. Here, we tested for associations between individual diversity of the MHC class I and class II genes (binding antigens of intra- and extra-cellular pathogens, respectively) and a range of fitness-related traits (condition, ornament expression and reproduction) in an urban population of the Eurasian coot Fulica atra. 3. Contrary to our expectation, we found that high within-individual allelic diversity of MHC genes (both class I and II) was associated with poorer condition (lower blood haemoglobin concentrations), weaker expression of the putative ornament (smaller frontal shield), later onset of breeding and smaller clutches. An analysis of functional MHC allele clusters (supertypes) provided further support for negative associations of MHC diversity with phenotypic quality and reproductive performance, but most of these relationships could not be explained by the presence of specific maladaptive supertypes. Finally, we found little empirical support for the optimality hypothesis in the Eurasian coot. 4. Our results suggest that the costs of high MHC diversity outweighed any benefits associated with broad MHC repertoire, which could be driven by depauperate pathogen diversity in an urban landscape. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first studies providing consistent evidence for negative associations of MHC diversity with a range of fitness-related traits in a natural avian population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Pikus
- Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Łódź, Banacha 1/3, 90-237, Łódź, Poland
| | - Peter O Dunn
- Behavioral and Molecular Ecology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-, Milwaukee
| | - Piotr Minias
- Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Łódź, Banacha 1/3, 90-237, Łódź, Poland
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31
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Early life adversity, inflammation, and immune function: An initial test of adaptive response models of immunological programming. Dev Psychopathol 2022; 34:539-555. [PMID: 35152928 DOI: 10.1017/s095457942100170x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Much research indicates that exposure to early life adversity (ELA) predicts chronic inflammatory activity, increasing one's risk of developing diseases of aging later in life. Despite its costs, researchers have proposed that chronic inflammation may be favored in this context because it would help promote immunological vigilance in environments with an elevated risk of infection and injury. Although intuitively appealing, the assumption that exaggerated inflammatory activity predicts favorable immunological outcomes among those exposed to ELA has not been tested. Here, we seek to address this gap, examining the links between exposure to ELA, inflammation, and immune function. Consistent with others' work, results revealed that those from low socioeconomic status (SES) childhood environments exhibited exaggerated unstimulated inflammatory activity relative to what was observed among those from higher SES childhood environments. Further, results revealed that - although levels of inflammation predicted the magnitude of immunological responses in those from higher SES backgrounds - for those who grew up in low SES environments, higher levels of inflammation were unrelated to the magnitude of immunological responses. Results suggest that exaggerated inflammatory activity in the context of ELA may not predict improved ability to manage acute immunological threats.
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32
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Frankenhuis WE, Amir D. What is the expected human childhood? Insights from evolutionary anthropology. Dev Psychopathol 2022; 34:473-497. [PMID: 34924077 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579421001401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
In psychological research, there are often assumptions about the conditions that children expect to encounter during their development. These assumptions shape prevailing ideas about the experiences that children are capable of adjusting to, and whether their responses are viewed as impairments or adaptations. Specifically, the expected childhood is often depicted as nurturing and safe, and characterized by high levels of caregiver investment. Here, we synthesize evidence from history, anthropology, and primatology to challenge this view. We integrate the findings of systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and cross-cultural investigations on three forms of threat (infanticide, violent conflict, and predation) and three forms of deprivation (social, cognitive, and nutritional) that children have faced throughout human evolution. Our results show that mean levels of threat and deprivation were higher than is typical in industrialized societies, and that our species has experienced much variation in the levels of these adversities across space and time. These conditions likely favored a high degree of phenotypic plasticity, or the ability to tailor development to different conditions. This body of evidence has implications for recognizing developmental adaptations to adversity, for cultural variation in responses to adverse experiences, and for definitions of adversity and deprivation as deviation from the expected human childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willem E Frankenhuis
- Department of Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law, Germany
| | - Dorsa Amir
- Department of Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, USA
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33
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Gildner TE, Cepon-Robins TJ, Urlacher SS. Cumulative host energetic costs of soil-transmitted helminth infection. Trends Parasitol 2022; 38:629-641. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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34
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Jankovic-Rankovic J, Oka RC, Meyer JS, Snodgrass JJ, Eick GN, Gettler LT. Transient refugees' social support, mental health, and physiological markers: Evidence from Serbian asylum centers. Am J Hum Biol 2022; 34:e23747. [PMID: 35349201 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Refugees seeking safety across international borders are often exposed to a wide breadth of psychosocially stressful experiences that may fracture existing sources of social support and impair the generation of new social relationships, with implications for their long-term health and resilience. Using data from recently settled refugees in two asylum centers in Serbia, we examined the associations between social support, mental health, and physiological markers. METHODS In this mixed-method study of refugees (age 18-50 years, n = 76), we collected key socio-demographic information and conducted semi-structured interviews about refugees' journey and stay in Serbia, trauma/loss, and their sources of social support. We also collected self-reported measures of mental well-being as well as physiological markers relevant to repeated exposure to chronic psychosocial stress (fingernail cortisol and dried blood spots for analysis of Epstein-Barr virus [EBV] antibody titers). RESULTS We found that refugees with longer journeys reported lower social support than those with shorter journeys. Refugees with lower social support reported poorer mental well-being, greater PTSD-related symptoms, and higher recent perceived stress than those with higher social support. We also observed that refugees with lower social support and higher recent stress, respectively, tended to exhibit higher fingernail cortisol levels. However, we did not observe comparable patterns linking EBV antibodies with psychosocial functioning. CONCLUSION Our cross-sectional findings are consistent with the notion that social support is likely to be a critical component in effective interventions aimed at mitigating the adverse health effects of relocation-related illnesses and poor social functioning as they await resettlement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rahul C Oka
- Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Jerrold S Meyer
- Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - J Josh Snodgrass
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
| | - Geeta N Eick
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
| | - Lee T Gettler
- Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA.,Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
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Frias-Soler RC, Kelsey NA, Villarín Pildaín L, Wink M, Bairlein F. Transcriptome signature changes in the liver of a migratory passerine. Genomics 2022; 114:110283. [PMID: 35143886 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The liver plays a principal role in avian migration. Here, we characterised the liver transcriptome of a long-distance migrant, the Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe), sampled at different migratory stages, looking for molecular processes linked with adaptations to migration. The analysis of the differentially expressed genes suggested changes in the periods of the circadian rhythm, variation in the proportion of cells in G1/S cell-cycle stages and the putative polyploidization of this cell population. This may explain the dramatic increment in the liver's metabolic capacities towards migration. Additionally, genes involved in anti-oxidative stress, detoxification and innate immune responses, lipid metabolism, inflammation and angiogenesis were regulated. Lipophagy and lipid catabolism were active at all migratory stages and increased towards the fattening and fat periods, explaining the relevance of lipolysis in controlling steatosis and maintaining liver health. Our study clears the way for future functional studies regarding long-distance avian migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Carlos Frias-Soler
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany; Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Natalie A Kelsey
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
| | - Lilian Villarín Pildaín
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Wink
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Franz Bairlein
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386 Wilhelmshaven, Germany; Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany.
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Variations in Rainbow Trout Immune Responses against A. salmonicida: Evidence of an Internal Seasonal Clock in Oncorhynchus mykiss. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11020174. [PMID: 35205041 PMCID: PMC8869240 DOI: 10.3390/biology11020174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In poikilothermic vertebrates, seasonality influences different immunological parameters such as leukocyte numbers, phagocytic activity, and antibody titers. This phenomenon has been described in different teleost species, with immunological parameters peaking during warmer months and decreased levels during winter. In this study, the cellular immune responses of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) kept under constant photoperiod and water temperature against intraperitoneally injected Aeromonas salmonicida during the summer and winter were investigated. The kinetics of different leukocyte subpopulations from peritoneal cavity, spleen, and head kidney in response to the bacteria was measured by flow cytometry. Furthermore, the kinetics of induced A. salmonicida-specific antibodies was evaluated by ELISA. Despite maintaining the photoperiod and water temperature as constant, different cell baselines were detected in all organs analyzed. During the winter months, B- and T-cell responses were decreased, contrary to what was observed during summer months. However, the specific antibody titers were similar between the two seasons. Natural antibodies, however, were greatly increased 12 h post-injection only during the wintertime. Altogether, our results suggest a bias toward innate immune responses and potential lymphoid immunosuppression in the wintertime in trout. These seasonal differences, despite photoperiod and water temperature being kept constant, suggest an internal inter-seasonal or circannual clock controlling the immune system and physiology of this teleost fish.
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Butovskaya ML, Rostovtseva VV, Mezentseva AA. Facial and body sexual dimorphism are not interconnected in the Maasai. J Physiol Anthropol 2022; 41:3. [PMID: 34996526 PMCID: PMC8740871 DOI: 10.1186/s40101-021-00276-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In this paper, we investigate facial sexual dimorphism and its' association with body dimorphism in Maasai, the traditional seminomadic population of Tanzania. We discuss findings on other human populations and possible factors affecting the developmental processes in Maasai. METHODS Full-face anthropological photographs were obtained from 305 Maasai (185 men, 120 women) aged 17-90 years. Facial shape was assessed combining geometric morphometrics and classical facial indices. Body parameters were measured directly using precise anthropological instruments. RESULTS Sexual dimorphism in Maasai faces was low, sex explained 1.8% of the total shape variance. However, male faces were relatively narrower and vertically prolonged, with slightly wider noses, narrower-set and lower eyebrows, wider mouths, and higher forehead hairline. The most sexually dimorphic regions of the face were the lower jaw and the nose. Facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR), measured in six known variants, revealed no significant sexual dimorphism. The allometric effects on facial traits were mostly related to the face growth, rather than the growth of the whole body (body height). Significant body dimorphism was demonstrated, men being significantly higher, with larger wrist diameter and hand grip strength, and women having higher BMI, hips circumferences, upper arm circumferences, triceps skinfolds. Facial and body sexual dimorphisms were not associated. CONCLUSIONS Facial sex differences in Maasai are very low, while on the contrary, the body sexual dimorphism is high. There were practically no associations between facial and body measures. These findings are interpreted in the light of trade-offs between environmental, cultural, and sexual selection pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina L Butovskaya
- Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334, Russia.
- The National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, 101000, Russia.
- Russian State University for the Humanities, Moscow, 125047, Russia.
| | - Victoria V Rostovtseva
- Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334, Russia
| | - Anna A Mezentseva
- Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334, Russia
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38
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Jafari N, Khoradmehr A, Moghiminasr R, Seyed Habashi M. Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cells-Derived Exosomes as an Antimicrobial Weapon for Orodental Infections. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:795682. [PMID: 35058912 PMCID: PMC8764367 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.795682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The oral cavity as the second most various microbial community in the body contains a broad spectrum of microorganisms which are known as the oral microbiome. The oral microbiome includes different types of microbes such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa. Numerous factors can affect the equilibrium of the oral microbiome community which can eventually lead to orodental infectious diseases. Periodontitis, dental caries, oral leukoplakia, oral squamous cell carcinoma are some multifactorial infectious diseases in the oral cavity. In defending against infection, the immune system has an essential role. Depending on the speed and specificity of the reaction, immunity is divided into two different types which are named the innate and the adaptive responses but also there is much interaction between them. In these responses, different types of immune cells are present and recent evidence demonstrates that these cell types both within the innate and adaptive immune systems are capable of secreting some extracellular vesicles named exosomes which are involved in the response to infection. Exosomes are 30-150 nm lipid bilayer vesicles that consist of variant molecules, including proteins, lipids, and genetic materials and they have been associated with cell-to-cell communications. However, some kinds of exosomes can be effective on the pathogenicity of various microorganisms and promoting infections, and some other ones have antimicrobial and anti-infective functions in microbial diseases. These discrepancies in performance are due to the origin of the exosome. Exosomes can modulate the innate and specific immune responses of host cells by participating in antigen presentation for activation of immune cells and stimulating the release of inflammatory factors and the expression of immune molecules. Also, mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs)-derived exosomes participate in immunomodulation by different mechanisms. Ease of expansion and immunotherapeutic capabilities of MSCs, develop their applications in hundreds of clinical trials. Recently, it has been shown that cell-free therapies, like exosome therapies, by having more advantages than previous treatment methods are emerging as a promising strategy for the treatment of several diseases, in particular inflammatory conditions. In orodental infectious disease, exosomes can also play an important role by modulating immunoinflammatory responses. Therefore, MSCs-derived exosomes may have potential therapeutic effects to be a choice for controlling and treatment of orodental infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazanin Jafari
- Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Arezoo Khoradmehr
- The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Reza Moghiminasr
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mina Seyed Habashi
- Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
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Ivey Henry P, Morelli GA. Niche Construction in Hunter-Gatherer Infancy: Growth and Health Trade-Offs Inform Social Agency. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-76000-7_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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40
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Ewald J, Rivieccio F, Radosa L, Schuster S, Brakhage AA, Kaleta C. Dynamic optimization reveals alveolar epithelial cells as key mediators of host defense in invasive aspergillosis. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1009645. [PMID: 34898608 PMCID: PMC8699926 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is an important human fungal pathogen and its conidia are constantly inhaled by humans. In immunocompromised individuals, conidia can grow out as hyphae that damage lung epithelium. The resulting invasive aspergillosis is associated with devastating mortality rates. Since infection is a race between the innate immune system and the outgrowth of A. fumigatus conidia, we use dynamic optimization to obtain insight into the recruitment and depletion of alveolar macrophages and neutrophils. Using this model, we obtain key insights into major determinants of infection outcome on host and pathogen side. On the pathogen side, we predict in silico and confirm in vitro that germination speed is an important virulence trait of fungal pathogens due to the vulnerability of conidia against host defense. On the host side, we found that epithelial cells, which have been underappreciated, play a role in fungal clearance and are potent mediators of cytokine release. Both predictions were confirmed by in vitro experiments on established cell lines as well as primary lung cells. Further, our model affirms the importance of neutrophils in invasive aspergillosis and underlines that the role of macrophages remains elusive. We expect that our model will contribute to improvement of treatment protocols by focusing on the critical components of immune response to fungi but also fungal virulence traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Ewald
- Department of Bioinformatics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.,Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (ScaDS.AI), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Flora Rivieccio
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.,Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Lukáš Radosa
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Stefan Schuster
- Department of Bioinformatics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.,Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Christoph Kaleta
- Research Group Medical Systems Biology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
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Roast MJ, Hidalgo Aranzamendi N, Teunissen N, Fan M, Verhulst S, Peters A. No Evidence for Constitutive Innate Immune Senescence in a Longitudinal Study of a Wild Bird. Physiol Biochem Zool 2021; 95:54-65. [PMID: 34870562 DOI: 10.1086/717937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAging is associated with declines in physiological performance; declining immune defenses particularly could have consequences for age-related fitness and survival. In aging vertebrates, adaptive (memory-based) immune responses typically become impaired, innate (nonspecific) responses undergo lesser declines, and inflammation increases. Longitudinal studies of immune functions in wild animals are rare, yet they are needed to understand immunosenescence under evolutionarily relevant conditions. Using longitudinal data from a tropical passerine (Malurus coronatus) population, we investigate how population trends emerge from within-individual changes and between-individual heterogeneity (e.g., selective disappearance) in immune status. We quantified constitutive immune indexes (haptoglobin [inflammation associated], natural antibodies, complement [lytic] activity, and heterophil-lymphocyte ratio; n=505-631) in individuals sampled one to seven times over 5 yr. Unexpectedly, longitudinal analyses showed no age-related change within individuals in any immune index, despite sufficient power to detect within-individual change. Between individuals, we found age-related declines in natural antibodies and increases in heterophil-lymphocyte ratios. However, selective disappearance could not adequately explain between-individual age effects, and longitudinal models could not explain our data better than cross-sectional analyses. The lack of clear within-individual immunosenescence is itself notable. Persistent levels of haptoglobin, complement activity, and natural antibodies into old age suggests that these immune components are maintained, potentially with adaptive significance.
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Ortega N, Roznik EA, Surbaugh KL, Cano N, Price W, Campbell T, Rohr JR. Parasite spillover to native hosts from more tolerant, supershedding invasive hosts: Implications for management. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Ortega
- Department of Biology University of Tampa Tampa FL USA
| | - Elizabeth A. Roznik
- North Carolina Zoo Asheboro NC USA
- Department of Integrative Biology University of South Florida Tampa FL USA
| | - Kerri L. Surbaugh
- Department of Integrative Biology University of South Florida Tampa FL USA
| | - Natalia Cano
- Department of Integrative Biology University of South Florida Tampa FL USA
| | - Wayne Price
- Department of Biology University of Tampa Tampa FL USA
| | - Todd Campbell
- Department of Biology University of Tampa Tampa FL USA
| | - Jason R. Rohr
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Notre DameNotre Dame IN USA
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Suarez-Henriques P, de Miranda E Silva Chaves C, Cardoso-Leite R, Gomes-Caldas DG, Morita-Katiki L, Tsai SM, Louvandini H. Ovarian activation delays in peripubertal ewe lambs infected with Haemonchus contortus can be avoided by supplementing protein in their diets. BMC Vet Res 2021; 17:344. [PMID: 34732186 PMCID: PMC8565066 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-03020-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ewe lamb nutritional and physiological state interfere with the ovarian environment and fertility. The lack or excess of circulating nutrients reaching the ovary can change its gene expression. A protein deficiency in the blood caused by an Haemonchus contortus abomasal infection is detrimental to the organism's development during puberty. The peripubertal period is a time of intensive growth that requires a high level of nutrients. An essential feature controlling pubertal arousal and female reproductive potential is ovarian follicle growth activation. Protein supplementation improves the sheep's immune response to helminthic infections. We aimed to determine if supplementing protein in infected ewe lambs' diet would impact the ovarian environment leading to earlier ovarian follicle activation than in infected not supplemented animals. METHODS We fed 18 Santa Ines ewe lambs (Ovis aries) - bred by the same ram - with either 12% protein (Control groups) or 19% protein (Supplemented groups) in their diets. After 35 days of the diet, they were each artificially infected or not with 10,000 Haemonchus contortus L3 larvae. Following 77 days of the diet and 42 days of infection, we surgically collected their left ovaries and examined their genes expression through RNA sequencing. RESULTS We found that protein supplementation in infected animals led to an up-regulation of genes (FDR p-values < 0.05) and biological processes (p-value cut-off = 0.01) linked to meiotic activation in pre-ovulatory follicles and primordial follicle activation, among others. The supplemented not infected animals also up-regulated genes and processes linked to meiosis and others, such as circadian behaviour. The not supplemented animals had these same processes down-regulated while up-regulated processes related to tissue morphogenesis, inflammation and immune response. CONCLUSION Diet's protein supplementation of peripubertal infected animals allowed them to express genes related to a more mature ovarian follicle stage than their half-sisters that were not supplemented. These results could be modelling potential effects of the interaction between environmental factors, nutrition and infection on reproductive health. When ovarian activation is achieved in a timely fashion, the ewe may generate more lambs during its reproductive life, increasing sheep breeders' productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Suarez-Henriques
- Department of Animal Science, ESALQ - University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | | | - Ricardo Cardoso-Leite
- Science, Technology and Education Federal Institute of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Danielle G Gomes-Caldas
- Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory, CENA -University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Siu Mui Tsai
- Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory, CENA -University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Helder Louvandini
- Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, CENA - University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
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Jehan C, Sabarly C, Rigaud T, Moret Y. Age-specific fecundity under pathogenic threat in an insect: Terminal investment versus reproductive restraint. J Anim Ecol 2021; 91:101-111. [PMID: 34626485 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The terminal investment hypothesis predicts that as an organism's prospects for survival decrease, through age or when exposed to a pathogenic infection, it will invest more in reproduction, which should trade-off against somatic maintenance (including immunity) and therefore future survival. Attempts to test this hypothesis have produced mixed results, which, in addition, mainly rely on the assessment of changes in reproductive effort and often overlooking its impact on somatic defences and survival. Alternatively, animals may restrain current reproduction to sustain somatic protection, increasing the chance of surviving for additional reproductive opportunities. We tested both of these hypotheses in females of the yellow mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor, an iteroparous insect with reproductive tactics similar to that of long-lived organisms. To achieve this, we mimicked pathogenic bacterial infections early or late in the life of breeding females by injecting them with a suspension of inactivated Bacillus cereus, a known natural pathogen of T. molitor, and measured female age-specific fecundity, survival, body mass and immunity. Inconsistent with a terminal investment, females given either an early or late-life immune challenge did not exhibit reduced survival or enhance their reproductive output. Female fecundity declined with age and was reduced by the early but not the late immune challenge. Both early and late-life fecundity correlated positively with life expectancy. Finally, young and old females exhibited similar antibacterial immune responses, suggesting that they both restrained reproduction to sustain immunity. Our results clearly demonstrate that age-specific reproduction of T. molitor females under pathogenic threat is inconsistent with a terminal investment. In contrast, our results instead suggest that females used a reproductive restraint strategy to sustain immunity and therefore subsequent reproductive opportunities. However, as infections were mimicked only, the fitness benefit of this reproductive restraint could not be shown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charly Jehan
- UMR CNRS 6282 BioGéoSciences, Équipe Écologie Évolutive, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Camille Sabarly
- UMR CNRS 6282 BioGéoSciences, Équipe Écologie Évolutive, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Thierry Rigaud
- UMR CNRS 6282 BioGéoSciences, Équipe Écologie Évolutive, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Yannick Moret
- UMR CNRS 6282 BioGéoSciences, Équipe Écologie Évolutive, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France
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Behringer V, Müller-Klein N, Strube C, Schülke O, Heistermann M, Ostner J. Responsiveness of fecal immunoglobulin A to HPA-axis activation limits its use for mucosal immunity assessment. Am J Primatol 2021; 83:e23329. [PMID: 34554596 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The assessment of mucosal immunity as a component of animal health is an important aspect for the understanding of variation in host immunity, and its tradeoff against other life-history traits. We investigated immunoglobulin A (IgA), the major type of antibody associated with mucosal immunity, in relation to changes in parasitic burden following anthelminthic treatment in noninvasively collected fecal samples in a semi-free ranging group of Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus). We measured IgA in 340 fecal samples of fourteen females and nine males. As IgA has been found to be responsive to stressors, we also related fecal IgA (fIgA) levels to fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM) measured in the same samples as part of a previous study. We found a high variability within and between individual fIgA levels over time. Running generalized additive mixed models, we found that fIgA levels were higher in males than in females, but did not change in response to the anthelmintic treatment and the resulting reduction in worm burden. Instead, fIgA level changes were significantly correlated to changes in fGCM levels. Our findings indicate that due to the strong responsiveness of fIgA to HPA-axis activity, the measurement of fIgA may have certain limitations with respect to reflecting gastrointestinal parasitic burden. Moreover, the responsiveness of fIgA to stressors interferes with the interpretation of IgA levels in fecal samples as a measure of mucosal immunity, at least in our study population of the Barbary macaques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Behringer
- Endocrinology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nadine Müller-Klein
- Institute for Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Research Group Social Evolution in Primates, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Oliver Schülke
- Research Group Social Evolution in Primates, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany.,Department of Behavioral Ecology, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Leibniz ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael Heistermann
- Endocrinology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Julia Ostner
- Research Group Social Evolution in Primates, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany.,Department of Behavioral Ecology, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Leibniz ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, Göttingen, Germany
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Egerton S, Lynch SA, Prado-Alvarez M, Flannery G, Brennan E, Hugh-Jones T, Hugh-Jones D, Culloty SC. A Naïve Population of European Oyster Ostrea edulis with Reduced Susceptibility to the Pathogen Bonamia ostreae: Are S-Strategy Life Traits Providing Protection? Integr Comp Biol 2021; 60:249-260. [PMID: 32533837 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icaa071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
European populations of the native flat oyster, Ostrea edulis, have been heavily depleted by two protozoan parasites, Marteila refringens and Bonamia ostreae, with mortalities of up to 90% reported in naïve populations. However, in studies carried out over a 10-year period, researching the parasite-host relationship of B. ostreae and O. edulis in several age cohorts within a naïve O. edulis population from Loch Ryan (LR), Scotland, 1364 specimens were challenged and only 64 (5%), across multiple testing protocols, screened positive for B. ostreae. This article presents a case for the development of S-strategy life traits in the LR population that coincide with enhanced immune function and survival. Oysters are considered typical r-strategists (small in size with fast development and high fecundity) while S-strategists, as outlined in Grime's (1977) competitor-stress tolerant-ruderal (C-S-R) triangle theory, are characterized by slow growth and investment in the durability of individuals. This study hypothesizes that slower growth and reduced reproductive output in LR oysters has resulted in the investment of an enhanced immune function and reduced susceptibility to B. ostreae that is, r-strategists with S-strategy life traits equates to protection from significant pathogens. The findings presented here within provide a strong case study for local adaptation of energy allocation and provides empirical support for the C-S-R triangle theory in a marine organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sian Egerton
- Aquaculture and Fisheries Development Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Sharon A Lynch
- Aquaculture and Fisheries Development Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Maria Prado-Alvarez
- Marine Molecular Pathobiology Research Group, Institute of Marine Research, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain
| | | | - Elaine Brennan
- Aquaculture and Fisheries Development Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Tristan Hugh-Jones
- Atlantic Shellfish Ltd, Rossmore, Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork, Ireland.,Loch Ryan Oysters, Loch Ryan, Scotland, UK
| | - David Hugh-Jones
- Atlantic Shellfish Ltd, Rossmore, Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork, Ireland.,Loch Ryan Oysters, Loch Ryan, Scotland, UK
| | - Sarah C Culloty
- Aquaculture and Fisheries Development Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,MaREI centre, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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Behringer V, Deimel C, Stevens JMG, Kreyer M, Lee SM, Hohmann G, Fruth B, Heistermann M. Cell-Mediated Immune Ontogeny Is Affected by Sex but Not Environmental Context in a Long-Lived Primate Species. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.629094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Ecoimmunology conceptualizes the role of immunity in shaping life history in a natural context. Within ecoimmunology, macroimmunology is a framework that explains the effects of habitat and spatial differences on variation in immune phenotypes across populations. Within these frameworks, immune ontogeny—the development of the immune system across an individual life span—has received little attention. Here, we investigated how immune ontogeny from birth until adulthood is affected by age, sex, and developmental environment in a long-lived primate species, the bonobo. We found a progressive, significant decline of urinary neopterin levels, a marker for the cell-mediated immune response, from birth until 5 years of age in both sexes. The overall pattern of age-related neopterin changes was sex-specific, with males having higher urinary neopterin levels than females in the first 3 years of life, and females having higher levels than males between 6 and 8 years. Environmental condition (zoo-housed vs. wild) did not influence neopterin levels, nor did age-related changes in neopterin levels differ between environments. Our data suggest that the post-natal development of cell-mediated immune ontogeny is sex-specific but does not show plasticity in response to environmental conditions in this long-lived primate species. This indicates that cell-mediated immune ontogeny in the bonobo follows a stereotypic and maybe a genetically determined pattern that is not affected by environmental differences in pathogen exposure and energy availability, but that sex is an important, yet often overlooked factor shaping patterns of immune ontogeny. Investigating the causes and consequences of variation in immunity throughout life is critical for our understanding of life-history evolution and strategies, mechanisms of sexual selection, and population dynamics with respect to pathogen susceptibility. A general description of sex-specific immune ontogeny as done here is a crucial step in this direction, particularly when it is considered in the context of a species’ ecology and evolutionary history.
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Jaeggi AV, Blackwell AD, von Rueden C, Trumble BC, Stieglitz J, Garcia AR, Kraft TS, Beheim BA, Hooper PL, Kaplan H, Gurven M. Do wealth and inequality associate with health in a small-scale subsistence society? eLife 2021; 10:59437. [PMID: 33988506 PMCID: PMC8225390 DOI: 10.7554/elife.59437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In high-income countries, one’s relative socio-economic position and economic inequality may affect health and well-being, arguably via psychosocial stress. We tested this in a small-scale subsistence society, the Tsimane, by associating relative household wealth (n = 871) and community-level wealth inequality (n = 40, Gini = 0.15–0.53) with a range of psychological variables, stressors, and health outcomes (depressive symptoms [n = 670], social conflicts [n = 401], non-social problems [n = 398], social support [n = 399], cortisol [n = 811], body mass index [n = 9,926], blood pressure [n = 3,195], self-rated health [n = 2523], morbidities [n = 1542]) controlling for community-average wealth, age, sex, household size, community size, and distance to markets. Wealthier people largely had better outcomes while inequality associated with more respiratory disease, a leading cause of mortality. Greater inequality and lower wealth were associated with higher blood pressure. Psychosocial factors did not mediate wealth-health associations. Thus, relative socio-economic position and inequality may affect health across diverse societies, though this is likely exacerbated in high-income countries. Poverty is bad for health. People living in poverty are more likely to struggle to afford nutritious food, lack access to health care, or be overworked or stressed. This may make them susceptible to chronic diseases, contribute to faster aging, and shorten their lifespans. In high-income countries, there is growing evidence to suggest that a person’s ‘rank’ in society also impacts their health. For example, individuals who have a lower position in the social hierarchy report worse health outcomes, regardless of their incomes. But it is unclear why living in an unequal society or having a lower social status contributes to poorer health. One possibility is that inequalities in society are creating a stressful environment that leads to worse physical and mental outcomes. It is thought that this stress largely comes from how humans evolved to prioritize reaching a higher social status over having a long and healthy life. If this is the case, this would mean that the link between social status and health would also be present in non-industrialized communities where social hierarchies tend to be less pronounced. To test this, Jaeggi, Blackwell et al. studied the Indigenous Tsimane population in Bolivia who live in small communities and forage and farm their own food. The income and relative wealth of 870 households from 40 Tsimane communities were compared against various outcomes, including symptoms associated with depression, stress hormone levels, blood pressure, self-rated health and several diseases. Jaeggi, Blackwell et al. found poverty and inequality did not negatively impact all of the health outcomes measured as has been previously reported for industrialized societies. However, blood pressure was higher among people with lower incomes or those who lived in more unequal communities. But because the Tsimane people generally have low blood pressure, the differences were too small to have much effect on their health. People who lived in more unequal communities were also three times more likely to have respiratory infections, but the reason for this was unclear. This shows that social determinants such as a person’s wealth or inequality can affect health, even in communities with less rigid social hierarchies. In industrial societies the effect may be worse in part because they are compounded by lifestyle factors, such as diets rich in fat and sugar, and physical inactivity which can also increase blood pressure. This information may help policy makers reduce health disparities by addressing some of the social determinants of health and the lifestyle factors that cause them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian V Jaeggi
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, United States
| | - Aaron D Blackwell
- Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pulman, United States
| | | | - Benjamin C Trumble
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, United States.,Center for Evolution and Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, United States
| | | | - Angela R Garcia
- Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, United States.,School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, United States.,Center for Evolution and Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, United States
| | - Thomas S Kraft
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, United States
| | - Bret A Beheim
- Department of Human Behavior, Ecology and Culture, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Paul L Hooper
- Economic Science Institute, Chapman University, Irvine, United States.,Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, United States
| | - Hillard Kaplan
- Economic Science Institute, Chapman University, Irvine, United States
| | - Michael Gurven
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, United States
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Bender
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
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Combrink LL, Bronikowski AM, Miller DAW, Sparkman AM. Current and time-lagged effects of climate on innate immunity in two sympatric snake species. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:3239-3250. [PMID: 33841780 PMCID: PMC8019058 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Changing environments result in alterations at all levels of biological organization, from genetics to physiology to demography. The increasing frequency of droughts worldwide is associated with higher temperatures and reduced precipitation that can impact population persistence via effects on individual immune function and survival.We examined the effects of annual climate variation on immunity in two sympatric species of garter snakes from four populations in California over a seven-year period that included the record-breaking drought.We examined three indices of innate immunity: bactericidal competence (BC), natural antibodies (NABs), and complement-mediated lysis (CL).Precipitation was the only climatic variable explaining variation in immune function: spring precipitation of the current year was positively correlated to Thamnophis sirtalis BC and NABs, whereas spring precipitation of the previous year was positively correlated to T. elegans BC and NABs. This suggests that T. elegans experiences a physiological time-lag in response to reduced precipitation, which may reflect lack of capital for investment in immunity in the year following a dry year.In general, our findings demonstrate compelling evidence that climate can influence wild populations through effects on physiological processes, suggesting that physiological indices such as these may offer valuable opportunities for monitoring the effects of climate.
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