Are associations of immune gene expression, body condition and parasite burden detectable in nature? A case study in an endemic rodent from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Host–parasite co-evolutionary processes are the most important drivers shaping the host's immune system. During successful host immune responses to helminthic infections, usually a balanced cascade of different immune genes like MHC, T helper cell 1 and 2 (Th1 and Th2) cytokines is expressed. This information comes largely from human or laboratory studies. The situation under which the immune system has evolved, however, is more complicated and natural variation need to be included to provide a more complete picture of co-evolutionary processes. We employed quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) to explore associations of immune gene expression, body mass index (BMI) and helminth burden in a wild population of a non-model rodent (Delomys sublineatus). Our study shows that a typical Th2 response with a combination of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory components is detectable also under natural conditions. Complex associations of the expression levels of TGF-β, IL-10, IL-4 and IL-2 with different parasites and with the number of different helminth infections, respectively, were detected. A positive association of the body mass index with the expression of IL-2 and IL-4 may indicate a link between host condition and the inflammatory part of an immune reaction. Our study shows for the first time that despite several potentially confounding parameters naturally present in a wildlife study, typical patterns of immune gene expression are detectable and influence helminth burden. Thus, in addition to structural variance of immune-relevant genes their expression might reflect host–parasite coevolutionary processes.

Research highlights▶ Typical Th2 response is detectable under natural conditions in a non-model organism. ▶ Complex patterns of cytokine expression levels are associated with helminth burden. ▶ Link between host condition and inflammatory part of immune reaction is indicated. ▶ Immune gene expression might be involved in host-parasite coevolutionary processes.