Animal Ecology Group, Center for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol. 2012 May;162(1):7-15. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2012.01.010. Epub 2012 Jan 31.
Ecologists sometimes assume immunological indices reflect fundamental attributes of individuals-an important assumption if an index is to be interpreted in an evolutionary context since among-individual variation drives natural selection. Yet the extent to which individuals vary over different timescales is poorly understood. Haptoglobin, an acute phase protein, is an interesting parameter for studying variability as it is easily quantified and concentrations vary widely due to the molecule's role in inflammation, infection and trauma. We quantified haptoglobin in pigeon plasma samples collected over fourteen months and calculated repeatability to evaluate if haptoglobin concentration is a distinctive trait of individuals. We also explored the capacity of baseline haptoglobin concentrations to predict an array of physiological changes associated with a subsequent experimentally-induced inflammatory response. Maximum repeatability, which occurred over a short mid-winter interval, equaled 0.57. Baseline haptoglobin concentrations predicted response haptoglobin concentrations better than any other endotoxin-induced change. Overall, we identified several strengths and limitations of baseline [Hp] quantification. Acknowledging these qualities should lead to more refined conclusions in studies of the ecology and evolution of immune function.
生态学家有时假设免疫指数反映个体的基本属性——如果一个指数要在进化背景下进行解释，这是一个重要的假设，因为个体间的变异会驱动自然选择。然而，个体在不同时间尺度上的变异程度还不太清楚。触珠蛋白是一种急性期蛋白，是研究变异性的一个有趣参数，因为它很容易定量，并且由于分子在炎症、感染和创伤中的作用，浓度差异很大。我们在 14 个月的时间里对鸽子血浆样本中的触珠蛋白进行了定量，并计算了可重复性，以评估触珠蛋白浓度是否是个体的一个独特特征。我们还探讨了基础触珠蛋白浓度预测一系列与随后的实验性炎症反应相关的生理变化的能力。最大的可重复性发生在短暂的冬季中期，等于 0.57。基础触珠蛋白浓度比任何其他内毒素诱导的变化更能预测反应触珠蛋白浓度。总的来说，我们确定了基础[Hp]定量的几个优点和局限性。承认这些特性应该会导致在免疫功能的生态学和进化研究中得出更精细的结论。
