IMMUNE-NEUROENDOCRINE PHENOTYPES IN COTURNIX COTURNIX AND THEIR MODULATION BY CHRONIC STRESS EXPOSURE: AN ADAPTIVE POPULATION STRATEGY?

CORREA, S. G.; PALME, R.; CALIVA, J.M.; NAZAR, F.N.; MARIN, R.H.

Buenos Aires

Congreso; IV Reunión de la Sociedad Latinoamericana de Inmunodeficiencias. LXIII Reunión de la Sociedad Argentina de Inmunología. II Reunión Franco-Argentina de Inmunología.; 2015

LASID

Immune-neuroendocrine phenotypes (INPs) describe subgroups within a population with markedly different immune-neuroendocrine (INE) characteristics. In mammals INPs are well represented by the Lewis/Fisher paradigm in rats. Similar profiles were also demonstrated in humans in 2008. Moreover, these phenotypes have been associated with differences in the stress response. Recently, we proposed for the first time the existence of INPs in a non-mammalian species (Coturnixcoturnix) showing INE divergent profiles similar to those previously described in mammals. Lewis-like quail (15% of studied birds) showed lower corticosterone basal levels associated with higher testosterone, lymphoproliferative and antibody responses, interferon-γ and interleukin-1β mRNA expression levels, and lower frequencies of leukocyte subpopulations distribution and interleukin-13 levels, than their Fisher-like counterparts (15% of birds). Considering that stress can seriously impact INE interactions, this study evaluated whether chronic stress exposure may affect the INE interplay and consequently influence INPs population frequencies and distribution. Data showed that after stress bothLewis- and Fisher-like quail retained their previous INP. Interestingly, an increase of approximately 10% in those divergent phenotypes frequency was found, at expense of a shift in the INE interplay of some birds that previous to stress showed an intermediate profile. Results suggest an inductive as well asdisruptive stress effect on INPs distribution. Findings may be explained considering different but integrative contexts: evolutionary (resource allocation theory), physiological (multihost with multiparasite theories), and allowing for analysis ranging from an individual (actual defense theory - plasticity) to population (capital theory - fitness) scale.