Seasonal immune function and sickness responses

Nelson, Randy J.

doi:10.1016/j.it.2004.02.001

Cited by 306 publications

(253 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…The adaptive significance of such changes may lie in the reallocation of energetic resources towards mechanisms necessary for host defense, thereby increasing the likelihood of over winter survival (reviewed in Nelson and Demas, 1996;Nelson, 2004). In Siberian hamsters, short days enhance natural killer cell cytolytic capacity and spontaneous blastogenesis in both whole blood lymphocytes and isolated lymphocytes (Yellon et al, 1999a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pineal-dependent and -independent effects of photoperiod on immune function in Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus)

Wen

Dhabhar

Prendergast

2007

Hormones and Behavior

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Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) exhibit reproductive and immunological responses to photoperiod. Short (<10-h light/day) days induce gonadal atrophy, increase leukocyte concentrations, and attenuate thermoregulatory and behavioral responses to infection. Whereas hamster reproductive responses to photoperiod are dependent on pineal melatonin secretion, the role of the pineal in short-day induced changes in immune function is not fully understood. To examine this, adult hamsters were pinealectomized (PINx) or sham-PINx, and transferred to short days (9-h light/day; SD) or kept in their natal long-day (15-h light/day; LD) photoperiod. Intact and PINx hamsters housed in LD maintained large testes over the next 12 weeks; sham-PINx hamsters exhibited gonadal regression in SD, and PINx abolished this effect. Among pineal-intact hamsters, blood samples revealed increases in leukocyte, lymphocyte, CD62L+ lymphocyte, and T cell counts in SD relative to LD; PINx did not affect leukocyte numbers in LD hamsters, but abolished the SD increase in these measures. Hamsters were then treated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which induced thermoregulatory (fever), behavioral (anorexia, reductions in nest building), and somatic (weight loss) sickness responses in all groups. Among pineal-intact hamsters, febrile and behavioral responses to LPS were attenuated in SD relative to LD. PINx did not affect sickness responses to LPS in LD hamsters, but abolished the ameliorating effects of SD on behavioral responses to LPS. Surprisingly, PINx failed to abolish the effect of SD on fever. In common with the reproductive system, PINx induces the LD phenotype in most aspects of the immune system. The pineal gland is required for photoperiodic regulation of circulating leukocytes and neural-immune interactions that mediate select aspects of sickness behaviors.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pineal-dependent and -independent effects of photoperiod on immune function in Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus)

Wen

Dhabhar

Prendergast

2007

Hormones and Behavior

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“…There is considerable evidence that immune function varies on a seasonal basis in a number of vertebrate taxa Nelson et al, 2002;Nelson, 2004), and several patterns of seasonal variation exist. Many animals that seasonally reproduce during the spring and summer exhibit reduced immune function in the winter when food is scarce and thermogenesis is increased to offset colder temperatures Nelson, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many animals that seasonally reproduce during the spring and summer exhibit reduced immune function in the winter when food is scarce and thermogenesis is increased to offset colder temperatures Nelson, 2004). This pattern is typically reversed in captivity, as short day lengths (nonbreeding conditions) actually enhance immune function to anticipate these predictable energy deficits incurred during the winter months .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This pattern is typically reversed in captivity, as short day lengths (nonbreeding conditions) actually enhance immune function to anticipate these predictable energy deficits incurred during the winter months . As a general rule, immune responses are energetically expensive to produce (Demas et al, 1997;Ots et al, 2001;Martin et al, 2003;Demas, 2004) and are tightly regulated by seasonal resource availability (Nelson, 2004), which is often lowest during the winter. Alternatively, immunosuppression can occur during the breeding season when investment in immune defense competes with reproduction (Deerenberg et al, 1997;Nordling et al, 1998;Moreno et al, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The majority of studies examining seasonal variation of immunity have focused upon cellular and humoral components (Blom, 1994;Lochmiller et al, 1994;Demas and Nelson, 1996;Nelson and Demas, 1996;Zuk and Johnsen, 1998;Gonzalez et al, 1999;Moore and Siopes, 2000;Bilbo et al, 2002a;Møller et al, 2003;Nelson, 2004), while neglecting behavioral responses to infection. These behaviors are collectively referred to as sickness behaviors and include reduced activity, decreased food (anorexia) and water (adipsia) intake leading to weight loss, and a general decline in social activities and behavior (Hart, 1988).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Seasonal modulation of sickness behavior in free-living northwestern song sparrows (Melospiza melodia morphna)

Owen-Ashley

Wingfield

2006

Journal of Experimental Biology

111

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SUMMARY A variety of vertebrate species modulate immune function on a seasonal basis to cope with seasonal energy deficits and competing life-history demands, such as reproduction. Most studies to date have focused upon seasonal variation of cellular and humoral immunity, while neglecting behavioral responses to infection. These behavioral strategies are collectively termed sickness behaviors and are hypothesized to divert energy away from normal activities to combat and overcome infection. Sickness behavior can be triggered experimentally by injecting bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In this study, we provide the first evidence for seasonal modulation of sickness behavior in a free-living animal. Male song sparrows of western Washington state (Melospiza melodia morphna) are sedentary and territorial year round, except for a brief time during molt. Treatment with LPS decreased territorial aggressive behavior of males in the winter (nonbreeding), but not in the spring (breeding). Subjects were recaptured approx. 25 h after treatment. Recaptured LPS males in the winter lost more body mass than saline-injected controls while LPS males in the spring did not. These data indicate that birds in breeding condition were relatively insensitive to the effects of LPS. On a proximate level, suppression of sickness behavior during breeding is likely mediated by seasonal differences in energy allocation, as wintering sparrows were significantly heavier and had larger subcutaneous fat reserves and lower baseline corticosterone levels than breeding birds. Ultimately, suppression of sickness behavior may represent an allocation strategy to balance current reproductive opportunities with the life-history costs of self-defense.

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Genomics of the Circadian Clock

Murphy

2013

Equine Genomics

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Seasonal immune function and sickness responses

Cited by 306 publications

References 56 publications

Pineal-dependent and -independent effects of photoperiod on immune function in Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus)

Pineal-dependent and -independent effects of photoperiod on immune function in Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus)

Seasonal modulation of sickness behavior in free-living northwestern song sparrows (Melospiza melodia morphna)

Genomics of the Circadian Clock

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