Resistance and augmentation of innate immunity in mice exposed to starvation.
Mice were exposed to starvation for 3 days. Body temperature and various parameters were examined. By starvation, body temperature, blood glucose and ACTH decreased, especially on days 2 and 3. The level of corticosterone increased at this time. On the other hand, the number of lymphocytes yielded by the liver, spleen and thymus decreased from day 1 to 3. The change of the distribution of lymphocyte subsets was unique because NK, NKT and extrathymic T cells were stress-resistant in the liver. Conventional T and B cells were stress-sensitive. Reflecting the increased proportion of NK and NKT cells, NK and NKT activities were augmented. The increased proportion of NKT cells produced both IFNgamma and IL-4 (Th0-type profile). The proportion and some functions of granulocytes and macrophages increased on Day 1 after starvation. These results suggest that starvation has a potential to increase the functions of unconventional lymphocytes and myeloid cells.
Shen
Jiwei
J
Department of Immunology, Niigata University School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan.
Ren
Hongwei
H
Tomiyama-Miyaji
Chikako
C
Watanabe
Mayumi
M
Kainuma
Eisuke
E
Inoue
Masashi
M
Kuwano
Yuh
Y
Abo
Toru
T
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D053765:Interleukin-12 Subunit p35 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013217:Starvation / Q000276:immunology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000276:immunology*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D001786:Blood Glucose; D053765:Interleukin-12 Subunit p35; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013481:Superoxides; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003345:Corticosterone