David R Tevs, Justin A Mukhalian, Emma Simpson, Christian L Cox, Aaron W Schrey, Lance D McBrayer
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
AbstractBy allowing for increased absorption or reflectance of solar radiation, changes in pigmentation may assist ectotherms in responding to immune challenges by enabling a more precise regulation of behavioral fever or hypothermia. Variation in epigenetic characteristics may also assist in regulating immune-induced pigmentation changes and managing the body's energetic reserves following infection. Here, we explore how dorsal pigmentation, metabolic rate, and DNA methylation in the Florida scrub lizard (Sceloporus woodi) respond to two levels of immune challenge across two habitat types. We found changes in pigmentation that are suggestive of efforts to assist in behavioral fever and hypothermia depending on the intensity of immune challenge. We also found correlations between DNA methylation in liver tissue and pigmentation change along the dorsum, indicating that color transitions may be part of a multifaceted immune response across tissue types. The relationship between immune response and metabolic rate supports the idea that energetic reserves may be conserved for the costs associated with behavioral fever when immune challenge is low and the immune functions when immune challenge is high. While immune response appeared to be unaffected by habitat type, we found differences in metabolic activity between habitats, suggesting differences in the energetic costs associated with each. To our knowledge, these results present the first potential evidence of pigmentation change in ectotherms in association with immune response. The relationship between immune response, DNA methylation, and pigmentation change also highlights the importance of epigenetic mechanisms in organism physiology.
摘要 通过增加对太阳辐射的吸收或反射,色素的变化可能有助于外温动物通过更精确地调节行为发热或低体温来应对免疫挑战。表观遗传特征的变化也可能有助于调节免疫诱导的色素变化,并在感染后管理身体的能量储备。在这里,我们探讨了佛罗里达沼泽蜥蜴(Sceloporus woodi)的背色素沉着、新陈代谢率和 DNA 甲基化是如何在两种栖息地类型中对两种程度的免疫挑战做出反应的。我们发现,根据免疫挑战的强度,色素沉着的变化表明,它们努力协助行为发热和低体温。我们还发现肝脏组织中的 DNA 甲基化与背部的色素变化之间存在相关性,这表明颜色变化可能是跨组织类型的多方面免疫反应的一部分。免疫反应与新陈代谢率之间的关系支持了这样一种观点,即当免疫挑战较低时,能量储备可能会被保存下来,以应对与行为发热相关的成本;当免疫挑战较高时,能量储备可能会被保存下来,以应对与免疫功能相关的成本。虽然免疫反应似乎不受栖息地类型的影响,但我们发现不同栖息地的新陈代谢活动存在差异,这表明与每种栖息地相关的能量成本存在差异。据我们所知,这些结果首次提出了外温动物色素变化与免疫反应相关的潜在证据。免疫反应、DNA甲基化和色素变化之间的关系也凸显了表观遗传机制在生物生理中的重要性。
期刊介绍:
Physiological and Biochemical Zoology: Ecological and Evolutionary Approaches primarily publishes original research in animal physiology and biochemistry as considered from behavioral, ecological, and/or evolutionary perspectives. Studies at all levels of biological organization from the molecular to the whole organism are welcome, and work that integrates across levels of organization is particularly encouraged. Studies that focus on behavior or morphology are welcome, so long as they include ties to physiology or biochemistry, in addition to having an ecological or evolutionary context.
Subdisciplines of interest include nutrition and digestion, salt and water balance, epithelial and membrane transport, gas exchange and transport, acid-base balance, temperature adaptation, energetics, structure and function of macromolecules, chemical coordination and signal transduction, nitrogen metabolism and excretion, locomotion and muscle function, biomechanics, circulation, behavioral, comparative and mechanistic endocrinology, sensory physiology, neural coordination, and ecotoxicology ecoimmunology.