Stress Induced Polarization of Immune-Neuroendocrine Phenotypes in Gallus gallus

Abstract

Immune-neuroendocrine phenotypes (INPs) stand for population subgroups differing in immune-neuroendocrine interactions. While mammalian INPs have been characterized thoroughly in rats and humans, avian INPs were only recently described in Coturnix coturnix (quail). To assess the scope of this biological phenomenon, herein we characterized INPs in Gallus gallus (a domestic hen strain submitted to a very long history of strong selective breeding pressure) and evaluated whether a social chronic stress challenge modulates the individuals’ interplay affecting the INP subsets and distribution. Evaluating plasmatic basal corticosterone, interferon-γ and interleukin-4 concentrations, innate/acquired leukocyte ratio, PHA-P skin-swelling and induced antibody responses, two opposite INP profiles were found: LEWIS-like (15% of the population) and FISCHER-like (16%) hens. After chronic stress, an increment of about 12% in each polarized INP frequency was found at expenses of a reduction in the number of birds with intermediate responses. Results show that polarized INPs are also a phenomenon occurring in hens. The observed inter-individual variation suggest that, even after a considerable selection process, the population is still well prepared to deal with a variety of immune-neuroendocrine challenges. Stress promoted disruptive effects, leading to a more balanced INPs distribution, which represents a new substrate for challenging situations.

Variations in the immune and metabolic response of proactive and reactive Sparus aurata under stimulation with Vibrio anguillarum vaccine

“…However, pathogen-specific tailored vaccines can protect against disease but they may not prevent the spreading of the pathogen, which depends strongly on the characteristics of the host infection phenotype 21 : the outcome of a particular disease combines the whole set of the host’s physiological responses against the peculiarities of the pathogen’s infectiveness and spreading dynamics. Therefore, the inter-individual behavioural differences, and the overall performance of the individuals in a population, emerge as a proxy for underlying polarized neuro-immune-endocrine responses to stressors 22 , 23 . Selection for high or low immune responders to common pathogens may influence the likelihood of host-pathogen outcome.…”

Start on the Right Foot: Choice in a Complex Early Environment Boosts Coping Abilities in the Domestic Fowl Chick

“…Based on previous studies 30,39,40 , four variables were investigated to assess the status of each individual's immune system; 1) The lymphoproliferative response to phytohaemagglutinin-p (PHA-P), a cellular representative of the immune system re ecting birds' pro-in ammatory potential 41 , 2) Interferon gamma (IFN-) plasmatic concentration, as a pro-in ammatory mediator 3) Natural Antibodies against sheep red blood cells (SRBC), re ecting general humoral immune capacity, and 4) Heterophil/Lymphocyte (H/L) ratio, a representative of the cellular immune response as well as an haematological indicator of underlying chronic stress responses.…”

“…H/L ratio. Blood smears were stained with May Grünwald Giemsa and differential counts of 100 white cells per smear were made according to previous practice 30,40 . The heterophil/lymphocyte ratio was then calculated by dividing the number of heterophils by the number of lymphocytes 42,44 .…”

Modulating offspring responses: concerted effects of stress and immunogenic challenge in the parental generation

“…Three INE-related variables were evaluated. First, the specific induced humoral response was analysed via a microagglutination assay against injected sheep red blood cells (SRBC) (Al-Khalifa, 2015;Nazar and Marin, 2011;Nazar et al, 2017). This technique allows us to assess primary antibody production after 1 week since antigen encounter and after inactivating the complement system through heating of the samples (Fair et al, 1999).…”

“…Regardless of the type of environment in which birds are raised, the perception, processing and response to challenges will involve the activation of the immuno-neuroendocrine (INE) interplay (Ashley and Demas, 2017;Babb et al, 2014;Blom and Ottaviani, 2017;Bowling et al, 2018;Nazar et al, 2018b;Saino et al, 2005). This interplay orchestrates responses to a wide spectrum of challenges, ranging from local inflammation to systemic stress responses (Ashley and Demas, 2017;Blom and Ottaviani, 2017;Martin et al, 2008;Nazar et al, 2017).…”