TY - JOUR
T1 - Immune function in Amazonian horticulturalists
AU - Blackwell, Aaron D.
AU - Trumble, Benjamin
AU - Maldonado Suarez, Ivan
AU - Stieglitz, Jonathan
AU - Beheim, Bret
AU - Snodgrass, J. Josh
AU - Kaplan, Hillard
AU - Gurven, Michael
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2016/7/3
Y1 - 2016/7/3
N2 - Abstract: Background: Amazonian populations are exposed to diverse parasites and pathogens, including protozoal, bacterial, fungal and helminthic infections. Yet much knowledge of the immune system is based on industrialised populations where these infections are relatively rare. Aim: This study examines distributions and age-related differences in 22 measures of immune function for Bolivian forager-horticulturalists and US and European populations. Subjects and methods: Subjects were 6338 Tsimane aged 0–90 years. Blood samples collected between 2004–2014 were analysed for 5-part blood differentials, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and total immunoglobulins E, G, A and M. Flow cytometry was used to quantify naïve and non-naïve CD4 and CD8 T cells, natural killer cells, and B cells. Results: Compared to reference populations, Tsimane have elevated levels of most immunological parameters, particularly immunoglobulins, eosinophils, ESR, B cells, and natural killer cells. However, monocytes and basophils are reduced and naïve CD4 cells depleted in older age groups. Conclusion: Tsimane ecology leads to lymphocyte repertoires and immunoglobulin profiles that differ from those observed in industrialised populations. These differences have consequences for disease susceptibility and co-vary with patterns of other life history traits, such as growth and reproduction.
AB - Abstract: Background: Amazonian populations are exposed to diverse parasites and pathogens, including protozoal, bacterial, fungal and helminthic infections. Yet much knowledge of the immune system is based on industrialised populations where these infections are relatively rare. Aim: This study examines distributions and age-related differences in 22 measures of immune function for Bolivian forager-horticulturalists and US and European populations. Subjects and methods: Subjects were 6338 Tsimane aged 0–90 years. Blood samples collected between 2004–2014 were analysed for 5-part blood differentials, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and total immunoglobulins E, G, A and M. Flow cytometry was used to quantify naïve and non-naïve CD4 and CD8 T cells, natural killer cells, and B cells. Results: Compared to reference populations, Tsimane have elevated levels of most immunological parameters, particularly immunoglobulins, eosinophils, ESR, B cells, and natural killer cells. However, monocytes and basophils are reduced and naïve CD4 cells depleted in older age groups. Conclusion: Tsimane ecology leads to lymphocyte repertoires and immunoglobulin profiles that differ from those observed in industrialised populations. These differences have consequences for disease susceptibility and co-vary with patterns of other life history traits, such as growth and reproduction.
KW - Immune function
KW - South America
KW - Tsimane
KW - horticulturalists
KW - life history
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84978857951&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84978857951&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/03014460.2016.1189963
DO - 10.1080/03014460.2016.1189963
M3 - Article
C2 - 27174705
AN - SCOPUS:84978857951
SN - 0301-4460
VL - 43
SP - 382
EP - 396
JO - Annals of Human Biology
JF - Annals of Human Biology
IS - 4
ER -