The Immunology of Wild Rodents: Current Status and Future Prospects

Viney, Mark; Riley, Eleanor M.

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2017.01481

Cited by 35 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 43 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The different studies described above showed that the innate immune response varies with infections and also the animal environment, but few studies that explicitly compare wild animals to model animals have been carried out (Viney & Riley, 2017). However, experimental studies comparing the immune functions of wild rodents and model animals have gradually been reported.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Suppressed LPS‐mediated TLR4 signaling in the plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi) compared to the bamboo rat (Rhizomys pruinosus) and rat (Rattus norvegicus)

Cao

Wang

et al. 2020

J Exp Zool Pt A

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ecological immunology involves the study of the immune function of wildlife, which is seldom compared with that of model animals. Here, we evaluated and compared the level of the innate immune response in the plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi), an indigenous underground rodent from the Tibetan Plateau, with that in the bamboo rat (Rhizomys pruinosus) and Sprague‐Dawley (SD) rat (Rattus norvegicus). The spleen was observed by ordinary light and transmission electron microscopy, and the spleen index was calculated. After liposaccharide (LPS) challenge, the expression of Toll‐like receptor 2 (TLR2), TLR4, and hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α (HIF‐1α) in the spleen was detected by Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence. The expression of nuclear factor‐κB1 (NF‐κB1) and mitogen‐activated protein kinase 14 (MAPK14) in the spleen was detected by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and the levels of interleukin 6 (IL‐6), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), and interferon‐β (IFN‐β) in the spleen were detected by enzyme‐linked immunoassay. The spleen index of the plateau zokor was lower than that of the bamboo rat and SD rat. The expression of TLR4, NF‐κB1, and MAPK14 and the levels of IL‐6 and TNF‐α in the spleen of the plateau zokor were lower than those of the bamboo rat and SD rat, while the expression of TLR2 and HIF‐1α and the level of IFN‐β were higher than those of the bamboo rat and SD rat. We speculate that suppression of the TLR4 signaling pathway in the plateau zokor is an adaptation to hypoxic tunnels that decreases antigenic risk and maintains immune homeostasis. Moreover, the spleen of the plateau zokor is reduced in size, reducing the innate immunity investment in the spleen. We also noted that high levels of HIF‐1α in the spleen of the plateau zokor suppressed crosstalk between HIF‐1α and TLR4, promoting the innate immune response.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Suppressed LPS‐mediated TLR4 signaling in the plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi) compared to the bamboo rat (Rhizomys pruinosus) and rat (Rattus norvegicus)

Cao

Wang

et al. 2020

J Exp Zool Pt A

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Analysis comparing laboratory and wild mice reveal quite robust differences between their respective immune systems—for example, compared to laboratory mice, wild animals display a more activated immune system with increased serum antibody levels and numbers of circulating myeloid cells. 15,16 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Analysis comparing laboratory and wild mice reveal quite robust differences between their respective immune systems-for example, compared to laboratory mice, wild animals display a more activated immune system with increased serum antibody levels and numbers of circulating myeloid cells. 15,16 While these reports illustrate the potential value of examining the immune response in wild mice, such research would necessarily entail sacrificing the genetic homogeneity (and manipulability) of inbred mouse strains, as well as pose a limit on the ability to regulate numerous variables (age, breeding history, nutrition, prior immunological exposures, etc. ), which could make the venture even less well controlled than comparable human studies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Embracing microbial exposure in mouse research

Huggins

Jameson

Hamilton

2018

Journal of Leukocyte Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Research using mouse models have contributed essential knowledge toward our current under-standing of how the human immune system functions. One key difference between humans and typical laboratory mice, however, is exposure to pathogens in their respective environments. Several recent studies have highlighted that these microbial encounters shape the development and functional status of the immune system. For humans, such numerous and unavoidable encounters with viruses, bacteria, and parasites may be a defining factor in generating a healthy and robust immune system, poised to respond to new infections and to vaccination. Additionally, the commensal organisms that make up the host microbiome also change with environment and impact the immune response. Hence, there is a pressing need to generate more faithful mouse models that reflect the natural state of the human immune system. This review explores the use of new experimental mouse models designed to better understand how host-microbial interactions shape the immune response. By embracing these technologies to complement traditional mouse models, researchers can remove a significant barrier that has long separated murine and human immunologists.

show abstract

“…Applying network analysis to immunological data may therefore 49 provide new insights into the function and organisation of the immune system. Because 50 of the different immunological state of wild and laboratory animals [1,5], their immune 51 systems may also differ in the structure of interactions among different immune 52 components, which will be revealed by network analysis.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Immune state networks of wild and laboratory mice

Reis

Masuda

Viney³

2019

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The mammalian immune system protects individuals from infection and disease. It is a complex system of interacting cells and molecules and extensive work, principally with laboratory mice, has investigated its function. Wild and laboratory animals lead very different lives, and this is reflected in there being substantial immunological differences between them. Here we use network analyses to study a unique data set of 120 immune measures of wild and laboratory mice, where immune measures define nodes and correlations of immune measures across individual mice define edges between immune measures. To date, there has only been very limited network analyses of the immune system, which is surprising because such analyses may be important to better understand its organisation and functionality. We found that the immunological networks of wild and laboratory mice were similar in some aspects of their mesoscale structure, particularly concerning cytokine response communities. However, we also identified notable differences in node membership of network communities between the wild and laboratory networks, pointing to how the same immune system acts and interacts differently in wild and in laboratory mice. These results show the utility of network analysis in understanding immune responses and also the importance of studying wild animals in additional to laboratory animals. Author summaryThe mammalian immune system is a complex system that protects individuals from infection and disease. Most of our understanding of the immune system comes from studies of laboratory animals, particularly mice. However, wild and laboratory animals lead very different lives, potentially leading to substantial immunological differences between them and so possibly limiting the utility of laboratory animals as informative model systems. As a complex interacting set of cells and molecules, the immune system is a biological network. Therefore, we used network analyses to study the immune system, specifically a unique data set of immune measures of wild and laboratory mice, where 120 different immune measures define nodes of the network. We found that the networks of wild and laboratory mice were similar in some aspects of their grouping structure, particularly concerning communities of nodes of cytokine responses. However, we also identified notable differences in node membership of communities between the wild and laboratory networks, pointing to how the same immune system behaves differently in wild and in laboratory mice. These results show the utility of network May 9, 2019 1/19 analysis in understanding immune responses and also the importance of studying wild animals in addition to laboratory animals.1 The vertebrate immune system defends animals against infection and disease. 2Understanding how the immune system functions has been a long-standing area of 3 study, not only to understand the basic biology of this important system, but also to be 4 able to manipulate it for therapeutic benefit. Almost all that we know about the 5 mammalian...

show abstract

The Immunology of Wild Rodents: Current Status and Future Prospects

Cited by 35 publications

References 43 publications

Suppressed LPS‐mediated TLR4 signaling in the plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi) compared to the bamboo rat (Rhizomys pruinosus) and rat (Rattus norvegicus)

Suppressed LPS‐mediated TLR4 signaling in the plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi) compared to the bamboo rat (Rhizomys pruinosus) and rat (Rattus norvegicus)

Embracing microbial exposure in mouse research

Immune state networks of wild and laboratory mice

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About