title: Age-related variation in immunity in a wild mammal population.
abstract: Age-related changes in immunity are well documented in humans and laboratory mammals. Using blood samples collected from wild Soay sheep, we show that pronounced differences in T-cell subsets and inflammatory markers amongst age classes are also evident under natural conditions. These shifts parallel those observed in mammals experiencing protected environments. We found progressive declines in the proportion of naïve CD4 T cells with age, a precipitous drop in γδ T cells after the second year of life and an increase in acute phase protein levels amongst geriatric sheep. Our findings suggest immune aging patterns observed in laboratory and domestic mammals may generalize to more complex, challenging environments and could have fitness costs under natural conditions.
authors: Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK. dan.nussey@ed.ac.uk
authors: Daniel H
authors: DH
authors: Nussey
authors: Kathryn
authors: K
authors: Watt
authors: Jill G
authors: JG
authors: Pilkington
authors: Rose
authors: R
authors: Zamoyska
authors: Tom N
authors: TN
authors: McNeilly
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D056084:Genetic Fitness / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008322:Mammals; D012756:Sheep; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens