Summary: Researchers report mice living in an enriched environment and stimulating surroundings have healthier immune systems.
Source: Queen Mary University of London.
Mice that are given toys and placed in stimulating surroundings have healthier immune systems, according to a study by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL).
Little is known about the influence of environmental factors on the immune system, but factors such as pollution, location, psychological state and social status have been proposed as determinants in the development of human autoimmune disorders.
The research, published in Frontiers in Immunology, provides the first evidence that an enriched environment influences the function of T cells – a type of white blood cell that is essential for immunity, and involved in HIV, rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic diseases.
The study found that a simple set of alterations to a mouse’s living space for a brief period of time caused dramatic changes to their T cells which made them more prone to having a protective inflammatory effect.
Mice were housed either in normal or ‘enriched’ environments for two weeks. The normal environment consisted of a standard mouse cage filled with sawdust and nesting material. To provide a richer, ‘multisensorial’ standard of living, the enriched environment had a wider cage with wood shavings and toys, including a coloured nest-box, fabric tube, running wheel and swing.
Lead research Professor Fulvio D’Acquisto said: “After only two weeks in an enriched environment with plenty of toys and space, the mice’s immune systems were completely different and seemed to be better prepared for fighting infections.
“This effect is remarkable because we haven’t given them any drugs, all we’ve done is change their housing conditions. You could say that we’ve just put them in their equivalent of a holiday resort for two weeks and let them enjoy their new and stimulating surroundings.”
T cells were extracted from the mice and stimulated with an agent that mimics infection. T cells from mice living in the enriched environment showed a unique pattern in the release of certain signalling molecules that play a role in immunity. This included higher levels of Interleukin 10 and Interleukin 17, compared to mice in a normal environment, which would give a better response to infection.
The T cells also had a unique genetic fingerprint, with 56 genes that were boosted, many of which are involved in healing and fighting infections.
Professor Fulvio D’Acquisto added: “Although this clearly still needs to be tested in humans, it raises an interesting possibility. What if doctors were able to change a patient’s environment and prescribe a two week holiday? Or perhaps we could boost the effects of standard drug treatments that deal with the mechanics of infection, by also offering something environmental that improves a patient’s more general wellbeing. That might be a promising approach for treating chronic diseases.”
The study is limited in that the researchers have not investigated the occurrence of these cells in living mice with relevant diseases. They also only looked at one type of cell, and environment could have different effects on other cell types. Studies will need to be carried out in humans before conclusions are drawn on the effect of environment on human immunology.
Source: Joel Winston – Queen Mary University of London
Image Source: NeuroscienceNews.com image is credited to Queen Mary University of London.
Original Research: Full open access research for “Impact of Enriched Environment on Murine T Cell Differentiation and Gene Expression Profile” by Lorenza Rattazzi, Giuseppa Piras, Samuel Brod, Koval Smith, Masahiro Ono, and Fulvio D’Acquisto in Frontiers in Immunology. Published online September 30 2016 doi:10.3389/fimmu.2016.00381
[cbtabs][cbtab title=”MLA”]Queen Mary University of London. “Toys and Enriched Surroundings Can Help Fight Infection: Mouse Study.” NeuroscienceNews. NeuroscienceNews, 3 October 2016.
<https://neurosciencenews.com/infection-toys-environment-5183/>.[/cbtab][cbtab title=”APA”]Queen Mary University of London. (2016, October 3). Toys and Enriched Surroundings Can Help Fight Infection: Mouse Study. NeuroscienceNews. Retrieved October 3, 2016 from https://neurosciencenews.com/infection-toys-environment-5183/[/cbtab][cbtab title=”Chicago”]Queen Mary University of London. “Toys and Enriched Surroundings Can Help Fight Infection: Mouse Study.” https://neurosciencenews.com/infection-toys-environment-5183/ (accessed October 3, 2016).[/cbtab][/cbtabs]
Abstract
Impact of Enriched Environment on Murine T Cell Differentiation and Gene Expression Profile
T cells are known to be plastic and to change their phenotype according to the cellular and biochemical milieu they are embedded in. In this study, we transposed this concept at a macroscopic level assessing whether changes in the environmental housing conditions of C57/BL6 mice would influence the phenotype and function of T cells. Our study shows that exposure to 2 weeks in an enriched environment (EE) does not impact the T cell repertoire in vivo and causes no changes in the early TCR-driven activation events of these cells. Surprisingly, however, T cells from enriched mice showed a unique T helper effector cell phenotype upon differentiation in vitro. This was featured by a significant reduction in their ability to produce IFN-γ and by an increased release of IL-10 and IL-17. Microarray analysis of these cells also revealed a unique gene fingerprint with key signaling pathways involved in autoimmunity being modulated. Together, our results provide first evidence for a specific effect of EE on T cell differentiation and its associated changes in gene expression profile. In addition, our study sheds new light on the possible mechanisms by which changes in environmental factors can significantly influence the immune response of the host and favor the resolution of the inflammatory response.
“Impact of Enriched Environment on Murine T Cell Differentiation and Gene Expression Profile” by Lorenza Rattazzi, Giuseppa Piras, Samuel Brod, Koval Smith, Masahiro Ono, and Fulvio D’Acquisto in Frontiers in Immunology. Published online September 30 2016 doi:10.3389/fimmu.2016.00381
