Differential Expression of Immune Response Genes in Steller Sea Lions ( Eumetopias jubatus ): An Indicator of Ecosystem Health?

Characterization of the polygenic and polymorphic features of the Steller sea lion major histocompatibility complex (MHC) provides an ideal window for evaluating immunologic vigor of the population and identifying emergence of new genotypes that reflect ecosystem pressures. MHC genotyping can be use...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bowen, Lizabeth, Aldridge, Brian, Beckmen, Kimberlee, Gelatt, Tom, Rea, Lorrie, Burek, Kathy, Pitcher, Ken, Stott, Jeffrey L.
Format: Text
Language:unknown
Published: DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 2006
Subjects:
Environmental Health
Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment
Environmental Sciences
Marine Biology
Other Immunology and Infectious Disease
Other Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
Zoology
Alaska
Aleutian Islands
Online Access:https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdeptcommercepub/204
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/context/usdeptcommercepub/article/1180/viewcontent/Gelatt_EH_2006_Differential_expression.pdf
Description
Summary:Characterization of the polygenic and polymorphic features of the Steller sea lion major histocompatibility complex (MHC) provides an ideal window for evaluating immunologic vigor of the population and identifying emergence of new genotypes that reflect ecosystem pressures. MHC genotyping can be used to measure the potential immunologic vigor of a population. However, since ecosystem-induced changes to MHC genotype can be slow to emerge, measurement of differential expression of these genes can potentially provide real-time evidence of immunologic perturbations. MHC DRB genes were cloned and sequenced using peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes derived from 10 Steller sea lions from southeast Alaska, Prince William Sound, and the Aleutian Islands. Nine unique DRB gene sequences were represented in each of ten animals. MHC DRB gene expression was measured in a subset of six sea lions. Although DRB in genomic DNA was identical in all individuals, relative levels of expressed DRB mRNA was highly variable. Selective suppression of MHC DRB genes could be indicative of geographically disparate environmental pressures, thereby serving as an immediate and sensitive indicator of population and ecosystem health.

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