Jm. Petitto et al., ASSOCIATION OF GENETIC-DIFFERENCES IN SOCIAL-BEHAVIOR AND CELLULAR IMMUNE RESPONSIVENESS - EFFECTS OF SOCIAL EXPERIENCE, Brain, behavior, and immunity, 8(2), 1994, pp. 111-122
We have recently demonstrated that selective breeding of ICR mice for
differences in social behavior (i.e., high versus low levels of social
isolation-induced aggression) are related to increased susceptibility
to tumor development and reduced levels of natural killer (NK) cell a
ctivity. In the present investigation, we sought to extend examination
of the line differences in immune status to T and B cell responsivene
ss. In addition, we also sought to determine if social experience cont
ributes to line differences in immune responsiveness. A cosibial desig
n was used to examine whether single vs group housing modified the mag
nitude of line differences in immune status. Compared to aggressive (N
C900) mice, nonaggressive (NC100) mice had significantly lower T cell
proliferative responses to concanavalin A, lower IL-2 and gamma-interf
eron production, as well as significantly lower NK activity. Of the va
rious measures of cellular immune responsiveness, housing condition wa
s found to have a significant effect only on NK activity. No significa
nt line by housing interactions were found for any of the immune measu
res tested. The present data demonstrate that the genetic selection fo
r differences in social behavior is associated with line differences i
n several parameters of cellular immune responsiveness. These mouse li
nes provide a valuable research model to examine the association betwe
en selection for genetic differences in social behavior and difference
s in immune responsiveness. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.