![[feed]](/style/images/feed-icon-14x14.png){kind=icon}
Tools
Tools
Preview |
PDF (Original Article)
- Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader
3MB |
![[thumbnail of Supplemental Data]](https://edoc.mdc-berlin.de/style/images/fileicons/other.png) |
Other (Supplemental Data)
119MB |
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Immune competence and spleen size scale with colony status in the naked mole-rat |
| Creators Name: | Bégay, V., Cirovic, B., Barker, A.J., Klopffleisch, R., Hart, D.W., Bennett, N.C. and Lewin, G.R. |
| Abstract: | Naked mole-rats (NM-R; Heterocephalus glaber) live in multi-generational colonies with a social hierarchy, show low cancer incidence and long life-spans. Here we asked if an immune component might underlie such extreme physiology. The largest lymphoid organ is the spleen which plays an essential role in responding to immunological insults and may participate in combating cancer and slowing ageing. We investigated the anatomy, molecular composition and function of the NM-R spleen using RNA-sequencing and histological analysis in healthy NM-Rs. Spleen size in healthy NM-Rs showed considerable inter-individual variability, with some animals displaying enlarged spleens. In all healthy NM-Rs the spleen is a major site of adult hematopoiesis under normal physiological conditions. However, myeloid to lymphoid cell ratio is increased and splenic marginal zone showed markedly altered morphology when compared to other rodents. Healthy NM-Rs with enlarged spleens showed potentially better anti-microbial profiles and were much more likely to have a high rank within the colony. We propose that the anatomical plasticity of the spleen might be regulated by social interaction and gives immunological advantage to increase the life-span of higher ranked animals. |
| Keywords: | Hyperplasic Spleen / Splenomegaly, Adaptive Immune System, Lymphopoiesis, Extramedullary Hematopoiesis, Eusociality, Animals, Mole Rats |
| Source: | Open Biology |
| ISSN: | 2046-2441 |
| Publisher: | Royal Society |
| Volume: | 12 |
| Number: | 4 |
| Page Range: | 210292 |
| Date: | 6 April 2022 |
| Official Publication: | https://doi.org/10.1098/rsob.210292 |
| PubMed: | View item in PubMed |
Repository Staff Only: item control page
