Social temperament and lymph node innervation.

TitleSocial temperament and lymph node innervation.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2008
AuthorsSloan EK, Capitanio JP, Tarara RP, Cole SW
JournalBrain Behav Immun
Volume22
Issue5
Pagination717-26
Date Published2008 Jul
ISSN1090-2139
KeywordsAnimal Communication, Animals, Antibody Formation, Behavior, Animal, Catecholamines, Cholinergic Fibers, Immune System, Immunoglobulin G, Interferon-gamma, Interleukin-4, Lymph Nodes, Lymphoid Tissue, Macaca mulatta, Male, Nerve Growth Factor, Regression Analysis, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, RNA, Messenger, Social Behavior, Social Isolation, Sympathetic Nervous System, Tetanus Toxoid, Vaccination
Abstract

Socially inhibited individuals show increased vulnerability to viral infections, and this has been linked to increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). To determine whether structural alterations in SNS innervation of lymphoid tissue might contribute to these effects, we assayed the density of catecholaminergic nerve fibers in 13 lymph nodes from seven healthy adult rhesus macaques that showed stable individual differences in propensity to socially affiliate (Sociability). Tissues from Low Sociable animals showed a 2.8-fold greater density of catecholaminergic innervation relative to tissues from High Sociable animals, and this was associated with a 2.3-fold greater expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA, suggesting a molecular mechanism for observed differences. Low Sociable animals also showed alterations in lymph node expression of the immunoregulatory cytokine genes IFNG and IL4, and lower secondary IgG responses to tetanus vaccination. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that structural differences in lymphoid tissue innervation might potentially contribute to relationships between social temperament and immunobiology.

DOI10.1016/j.bbi.2007.10.010
Alternate JournalBrain Behav. Immun.
PubMed ID18068331
PubMed Central IDPMC2519873
Grant ListAI/NS052737 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
CA116778 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
MH049033 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI052737 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI052737-01 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA116778 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA116778-01A2 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH049033 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH049033-07 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States