Inter-individual differences in immune profiles of outbred rats screened for an emotional reactivity phenotype

J Neuroimmunol. 2020 Oct 15:347:577349. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2020.577349. Epub 2020 Jul 30.

Abstract

Inter-individual differences in emotional reactivity predict susceptibility versus resilience to mood pathology. Using experimentally-naïve outbred rats that vary in locomotor reactivity to the mild stress of an inescapable novel environment [i.e., top and bottom 1/3rd of the population identified as high responders (HR) and low responders (LR) respectively], we determined baseline variations in immune functions. Innate and adaptive immune responses vary basally in LRHR rats, namely a shift towards TH1 in LRs and TH2 in HRs was observed. These inter-individual variations in immune profiles in LRHRs could have significant implications in mood alterations and immune reactivity to microbes and cancer.

Keywords: Cytokines; High responder; Low responder; Mood disorders; TH1 response; TH2 response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Exploratory Behavior / physiology
  • Female
  • Immunity, Innate / physiology*
  • Individuality*
  • Locomotion / physiology
  • Male
  • Mood Disorders / immunology*
  • Mood Disorders / psychology*
  • Phenotype*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley