Urinary neopterin of wild chimpanzees indicates that cell-mediated immune activity varies by age, sex, and female reproductive status
2021 | journal article
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Urinary neopterin of wild chimpanzees indicates that cell-mediated immune activity varies by age, sex, and female reproductive status
Negrey, J. D.; Behringer, V.; Langergraber, K. E. & Deschner, T. (2021)
Scientific Reports, 11(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88401-6
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Details
- Authors
- Negrey, Jacob D.; Behringer, Verena; Langergraber, Kevin E.; Deschner, Tobias
- Abstract
- Abstract The study of free-living animal populations is necessary to understand life history trade-offs associated with immune investment. To investigate the role of life history strategies in shaping proinflammatory cell-mediated immune function, we analyzed age, sex, and reproductive status as predictors of urinary neopterin in 70 sexually mature chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ) at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda. In the absence of clinical signs of acute infectious disease, neopterin levels significantly increased with age in both male and female chimpanzees, as observed in humans and several other vertebrate species. Furthermore, males exhibited higher neopterin levels than females across adulthood. Finally, females with full sexual swellings, pregnant females, and post-reproductive females, the oldest individuals in our sample, exhibited higher neopterin levels than lactating females and cycling females without full swellings. Variation in females’ neopterin levels by reproductive status is consistent with post-ovulatory and pregnancy-related immune patterns documented in humans. Together, our results provide evidence of ample variation in chimpanzee immune activity corresponding to biodemographic and physiological variation. Future studies comparing immune activity across ecological conditions and social systems are essential for understanding the life histories of primates and other mammals.
- Issue Date
- 2021
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- Organization
- Deutsches Primatenzentrum
- eISSN
- 2045-2322
- Language
- English
- Sponsor
- National Science Board http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100005716
Wenner-Gren Foundation 100001388
National Geographic Society http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100006363
Nacey Maggioncalda Foundation http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100009687
Boston University 100007161
Max-Planck-Society
National Institute on Aging http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000049
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology 501100007768