Cholesterol as an Immunomodulator

Immune challenge but not dietary restriction affects spatial learning in the wild subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum

“…Usually, deficiencies of micronutrients, and in lesser degree macronutrients, produce a weaker response of the immune system [12]. Moreover, energy restriction in the diet, if prolonged, can lead to the suppression of the immune system [64,11,65]. For example, deer mice fed 70% of their ad libitum diet two weeks after the first antigen presentation produced 95% less IgG against a novel protein after a second antigen challenge than mice fed ad libitum [66].…”

Photoperiod differentially affects energetics of immunity in pregnant and lactating Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus)

“…The process of generating an immune response, however, requires substantial energy (Sheldon and Verhulst 1996). Although moderate food restriction of laboratory animals increases longevity and improves immune function (Woodward 1998), prolonged energy restriction in the diet of lean animals in the wild can lead to immunosuppression and an increased risk of infection (Klurfeld 1993;Lochmiller and Dabbert 1993). More directly, the cascade of cellular events during the acute-phase immune response and inflammation and the elevation of body temperature in response to cytokine activation presumably require substantial energy (Henken et al 1982;Maier et al 1994).…”