Dataset Information

The effect of hydration state and energy balance on innate immunity of a desert reptile.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Immune function is a vital physiological process that is often suppressed during times of resource scarcity due to investments in other physiological systems. While energy is the typical currency that has been examined in such trade-offs, limitations of other resources may similarly lead to trade-offs that affect immune function. Specifically, water is a critical resource with profound implications for organismal ecology, yet its availability can fluctuate at local, regional, and even global levels. Despite this, the effect of osmotic state on immune function has received little attention.

Results

Using agglutination and lysis assays as measures of an organism's plasma concentration of natural antibodies and capacity for foreign cell destruction, respectively, we tested the independent effects of osmotic state, digestive state, and energy balance on innate immune function in free-ranging and laboratory populations of the Gila monster, Heloderma suspectum. This desert-dwelling lizard experiences dehydration and energy resource fluctuations on a seasonal basis. Dehydration was expected to decrease innate immune function, yet we found that dehydration increased lysis and agglutination abilities in both lab and field studies, a relationship that was not simply an effect of an increased concentration of immune molecules. Laboratory-based differences in digestive state were not associated with lysis or agglutination metrics, although in our field population, a loss of fat stores was correlated with an increase in lysis.

Conclusions

Depending on the life history of an organism, osmotic state may have a greater influence on immune function than energy availability. Thus, consideration of osmotic state as a factor influencing immune function will likely improve our understanding of ecoimmunology and the disease dynamics of a wide range of species.

SUBMITTER: Moeller KT

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3660207 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

The effect of hydration state and energy balance on innate immunity of a desert reptile.

Moeller Karla T KT Butler Michael W MW Denardo Dale F DF

Frontiers in zoology 20130504 1

<h4>Introduction</h4>Immune function is a vital physiological process that is often suppressed during times of resource scarcity due to investments in other physiological systems. While energy is the typical currency that has been examined in such trade-offs, limitations of other resources may similarly lead to trade-offs that affect immune function. Specifically, water is a critical resource with profound implications for organismal ecology, yet its availability can fluctuate at local, regional ...[more]

PMID: 23642164

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Project description:Our objectives were to compare gene expression profiles in neutrophils (PMN) during a Streptococcus uberis mastitis challenge between lactating cows subjected to feed restriction to induce negative energy balance (NEB; n = 5) and cows fed ad libitum to maintain positive energy balance (PEB; n = 5). The NEB cows were feed-restricted to 60% of calculated net energy for lactation requirements for 7 d, whereas PEB cows were fed the same diet for ad libitum intake. After 5 d of feed restriction, one rear mammary quarter of each cow was inoculated with 5,000 cfu of Streptococcus uberis (strain O140J). Blood PMN were isolated at 24 h post-inoculation from all cows for RNA extraction and microarray analysis. NEB resulted in 94 differentially expressed genes compared with PEB. Of these, 51 genes were down-regulated, including genes involved with antigen presentation (HLADRA and HLAA), respiratory burst (SOD1), and the pro-inflammatory response (TNFA and IRAK-1). The most affected genes up-regulated by NEB (n = 43) included IL1R2 and IL6, toll-like receptors (TLR2 and TLR4), and THY1. Network analysis by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis Â® revealed that TNFA was associated with the expression of numerous differentially expressed genes involved with immune response in NEB cows compared with PEB cows. Energy balance alters PMN expression of several genes involved with immune response, which provides new information on transcriptomic mechanisms associated with post-partal NEB and immune response during early lactation. Briefly, 10 multiparous Holstein cows in PEB and past peak lactation were used for this study. The NEB cows were feed-restricted to 60% of calculated NEL requirements for 7 d, whereas PEB cows were fed the same diet for ad libitum intake. After 5 d of feed restriction, one rear mammary quarter of each cow was inoculated with 5,000 cfu of Streptococcus uberis (strain O140J). Blood PMN were isolated at 24 h post-inoculation from all cows. A 13,257-oligonucleotide (70-mers) array was used for transcript profiling. Cy3- and Cy5 labelled cDNA from PMN and a reference standard were used for hybridizations. All samples were hybridized to duplicate slides with reverse labeling (20 microarrays total).

Dataset Information

The effect of hydration state and energy balance on innate immunity of a desert reptile.

Introduction

Results

Conclusions

Publications

The effect of hydration state and energy balance on innate immunity of a desert reptile.

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