PRJNA559026
Laboratory mice housed in the natural environment identifies genetic and environmental contributions to immune variation
The relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors to variation in immune response is still poorly understood. Here, we performed a deep phenotypic analysis of immunological parameters and molecular profiles of laboratory mice released into an outdoor enclosure, carrying genetic susceptibility genes (Nod2 and Atg16l1) implicated in the development of inflammatory bowel diseases. Differences in lymphocyte populations were largely driven by the lab and wild environment. However, cytokine production after stimulation with microbial antigens showed a stronger genetic component in the lab, which was reduced after exposure to the wild environment. Multi-omic models identified key transcriptional factors associated with lymphocyte changes predictive of the environment, as well as sub-networks associated with cytokine responses against Candida albicans and Bacteroides vulgatus. Hence, exposing laboratory mice of different genetic backgrounds to the outdoor environment may identify important contributors to immune variation.