Directional selection for specific sheep cell antibody responses affects natural rabbit agglutinins of chickens

Abstract

Agglutination data from generations 8 through 19 indicate that bidirectional selection for specific SRBC antibody responses was successful in a line cross of ISA x Warren medium heavy layers. After 11 generations titers of the high SRBC selected line (H line) were nearly 1:32,000; those of the low SRBC selected line (L line) were less than 1:2, but titers of the randombred control line remained stable at 1:32. Directional SRBC selection also affected levels of a naturally occurring rabbit cell agglutinating antibody (RRBC), presumably the avian form of alpha-galactose antibody (anti-Gal). This indirect response was biphasic and opposite in direction to the SRBC responses through generation 14 after which anti-Gal titers of all 3 lines increased. At generation 19, line H had the highest agglutinin titers; of both types, control line was intermediate, and line L was lowest. The correlation between SRBC and RRBC titers was 0.43 (P = 0.0). Females had higher titers than males, but the difference was only significant for the SRBC antibody (P = 0.028). Qualitative changes in anti-Gal accompanied SRBC selection. Rabbit agglutinins of 4 types were recognizable: classic, granular, annular, and one negative or very weak reaction. The score type means in line L were highest, in the control line were intermediate, and in line H were lowest, suggesting avidity differences now exist among these lines. The results show integration of natural and acquired immune systems because selection for one temporarily affected the other. Given the importance of anti-Gal in primates, our results should stimulate further study of this antibody in poultry species.

Interrelations among Immune Defense Indexes Reflect Major Components of the Immune System in a Free-Living Vertebrate

“…Studies in poultry indicate the existence of a positive genetic correlation between the levels of NAbs in plasma and antibody responses to specific antigens (Parmentier et al 2004;Cotter et al 2005). Namely, selection of chickens for high antibody responses to SRBC leads to parallel changes in the levels of NAbs against RRBC (Cotter et al 2005), the same two immune measures we used in tree swallows in this study. Therefore, the correlation of NAbs with the axis of B-cell function rather than with the axis of innate humoral immunity in tree swallows can be reconciled if we consider their origin and possible genetic link with specific antibody responses.…”

“…Most NAbs are produced constitutively by peritoneal B1 lymphocytes, while specific antibodies are produced by B2 lymphocytes only upon activation by antigen (Ochsenbein and Zinkernagel 2000). Studies in poultry indicate the existence of a positive genetic correlation between the levels of NAbs in plasma and antibody responses to specific antigens (Parmentier et al 2004;Cotter et al 2005). Namely, selection of chickens for high antibody responses to SRBC leads to parallel changes in the levels of NAbs against RRBC (Cotter et al 2005), the same two immune measures we used in tree swallows in this study.…”

Thermal Sensitivity of Immune Function: Evidence against a Generalist-Specialist Trade-Off among Endothermic and Ectothermic Vertebrates

“…Natural antibodies are primarily involved in antigen recognition and are cross reactive with a variety of antigenic types, leading directly to agglutination (Cotter et al 2005). By contrast, complement activity reflects a triggered enzymatic cascade that results in target cell lysis (Matson et al 2005).…”

“…Each plasma sample was present on nine plates (one at each incubation temperature), but we randomly assigned samples to each plate so that species was not nested within plate. Both M. W. Butler and Z. R. Stahlschmidt independently scored the plates blind to sample identity, and their scores were repeatable (Lessells and Boag 1987) are not specific (Cotter et al 2005), this assay is predicated on the assumption that sheep RBCs act as a novel antigen when stimulating hemagglutination (Matson et al 2005). Thus, previous exposure to sheep RBCs might lead to Vertical lines in each panel represent the mean body temperature (solid) and the mean temperature at which another performance metric (e.g., growth rate) is optimized (dashed) for each species.…”

Increase in the constitutive innate humoral immune system in Leach's Storm‐Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) chicks is negatively correlated with growth rate

“…Parmentier et al . 2004) and might be genetically linked with specific humoral responses (Cotter, Ayoub & Parmentier 2005).…”