title: Growing old with the immune system: a study of immunosenescence in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata).
abstract: Immunosenescence has not received much attention in birds and the few existing studies indicate that the occurrence of immunosenescence and/or its extent may differ between species. In addition, not much information is available on the immunosenescence patterns of different immune parameters assessed simultaneously in both sexes within a single species. The present study reports the results on immunosenescence in innate immunity and both cellular and humoral acquired immunity of both sexes in a captive population of zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) using three age groups (approximately 0.2, 2.5 and 5.1 years). Both male and female finches showed an inverse U-shaped pattern in cellular immune function with age, quantified by a PHA response. Males showed stronger responses than females at all ages. In contrast, an increase with age in humoral immunity, quantified through total plasma immunoglobulin Y levels, was found in both sexes. However, our measurements of innate immunity measured through the bacteria-killing ability against Escherichia coli gave inconclusive results. Still, we conclude that both cellular and humoral acquired immunity are susceptible to immunosenescence, and that the sexes differ in cellular immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway. elin.noreen@bio.ntnu.no
authors.forename: Elin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Noreen
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bourgeon
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bech
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000276:immunology*; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D005260:Female; D046369:Finches / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000276:immunology; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: C016512:IgY; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins