Changes in the Amount of Lysine in Protective Proteins and Immune Cells after a Systemic Response to Dead Escherichia coli: Implications for the Nutritional Costs of Immunity

Abstract

The nutritional demands of the immune system may result in tradeoffs with competing processes such as growth and reproduction. The magnitude of the nutritional costs of immunity is largely unknown. Thus, we examine the lysine content of the systemic components of the immune system in adult male chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) in a healthy condition (maintenance) and following a robust Escherichia coli-specific immune response. Lysine was used as a metric, because it is found both in leukocytes and in protective proteins. The dynamics of subsets of leukocytes were monitored in primary and secondary immune tissues (thymus, bone marrow, and spleen) that would be expected to be involved in the response following iv injection of E. coli. The systemic immune system at maintenance has the same lysine content as 332 average-sized feathers, 16% of an egg, or 5.4% of a pectoralis muscle from an adult chicken. During the acute-phase response to E. coli, the additional lysine needed would equal 355 feathers, 17% of an egg, or 5.5% of a pectoralis muscle. The acute-phase proteins accounted for the greatest proportion of lysine in the immune system at maintenance and the proportion increased substantially during an acute-phase response. Hypertrophy of the liver required more lysine than all of the leukocytes and protective proteins that were produced during the acute-phase response. Size of the liver and levels of protein during the acute phase returned to normal during the time when the adaptive response began to utilize significant quantities of lysine. The catabolism would release a surfeit of lysine to provision the anabolic processes of the adaptive response, thus making proliferation of lymphocytes and production of immunoglobulins very cheap.

Impact of nest sanitation on the immune system of parents and nestlings in a passerine bird

“…Production of acute phase proteins and lymphocytes can be nutritionally costly (Lee and Klasing, 2004), and the hypertrophy of the liver, which rapidly produces acute phase proteins, is also significant (Iseri and Klasing, 2014). Decreased intake of food and inefficient digestion are other important consequences of a robust immune response (Iseri and Klasing, 2014).…”

“…Production of acute phase proteins and lymphocytes can be nutritionally costly (Lee and Klasing, 2004), and the hypertrophy of the liver, which rapidly produces acute phase proteins, is also significant (Iseri and Klasing, 2014). Decreased intake of food and inefficient digestion are other important consequences of a robust immune response (Iseri and Klasing, 2014). Examples of a trade-off between immune function and other physiological processes in passerine birds in the wild include an increase in metabolic energy expenditure following an experimental challenge by the injection of sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) (Ots et al, 2001) and increases in metabolic rate following injection of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) (Martin et al, 2003).…”

A pre‐breeding immune challenge delays reproduction in the female dark‐eyed junco Junco hyemalis

“…Further, there are nutritional costs associated with immune activation in response to a pathogen, including the redistribution of nutritional resources from processes such as reproduction to the needs of the immune system (Ricklefs andWikelski 2002, Lee 2006). Limitation in key nutrients may further drive trade-off s between reproduction (egg production) and production of immune cells (Iseri and Klasing 2014). Limitation in key nutrients may further drive trade-off s between reproduction (egg production) and production of immune cells (Iseri and Klasing 2014).…”

“…Access to key proteins and amino acids necessary for initiating breeding can be seasonally variable. Limitation in key nutrients may further drive trade-off s between reproduction (egg production) and production of immune cells (Iseri and Klasing 2014).…”

The Control of Intestinal Inflammation: A Major Objective in the Research of Probiotic Strains as Alternatives to Antibiotic Growth Promoters in Poultry

“…Although this response can be effective against pathogens, a prolonged inflammatory process may have undesirable consequences, including potentially exacerbating tissue damage and diverting nutrients away from productive purposes [24]. Fever and inflammation consume considerable resources, decreasing carbohydrate reserves and catabolizing proteins, and, therefore, negatively influencing animal performance [32,33]. In addition, the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines causes the syndrome of "malaise" in birds [34], causing pyrexia, anorexia, weight loss, and apathy [31].…”