ASSOCIATION OF GENETIC-DIFFERENCES IN SOCIAL-BEHAVIOR AND CELLULAR IMMUNE RESPONSIVENESS - EFFECTS OF SOCIAL EXPERIENCE

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.