Effects of an IgE receptor polymorphism acting on immunity, susceptibility to infection, and reproduction in a wild rodent
Male
0301 basic medicine
0303 health sciences
Polymorphism, Genetic
Genotype
QH301-705.5
Receptors, IgE
Science
Reproduction
Q
R
Genetics and Genomics
Rodentia
inflammatory response
Fcer1a
phenotypic expression
3. Good health
03 medical and health sciences
Haplotypes
Microtus agrestis
sex
Medicine
Animals
Female
Biology (General)
DOI:
10.7554/elife.77666
Publication Date:
2023-01-16T12:00:21Z
AUTHORS (7)
ABSTRACT
The genotype of an individual is an important predictor of their immune function, and subsequently, their ability to control or avoid infection and ultimately contribute offspring to the next generation. However, the same genotype, subjected to different intrinsic and/or extrinsic environments, can also result in different phenotypic outcomes, which can be missed in controlled laboratory studies. Natural wildlife populations, which capture both genotypic and environmental variability, provide an opportunity to more fully understand the phenotypic expression of genetic variation. We identified a synonymous polymorphism in the high-affinity Immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptor (GC and non-GC haplotypes) that has sex-dependent effects on immune gene expression, susceptibility to infection, and reproductive success of individuals in a natural population of field voles (Microtus agrestis). We found that the effect of the GC haplotype on the expression of immune genes differed between sexes. Regardless of sex, both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory genes were more highly relatively expressed in individuals with the GC haplotype than individuals without the haplotype. However, males with the GC haplotype showed a stronger signal for pro-inflammatory genes, while females showed a stronger signal for anti-inflammatory genes. Furthermore, we found an effect of the GC haplotype on the probability of infection with a common microparasite, Babesia microti, in females – with females carrying the GC haplotype being more likely to be infected. Finally, we found an effect of the GC haplotype on reproductive success in males – with males carrying the GC haplotype having a lower reproductive success. This is a rare example of a polymorphism whose consequences we are able to follow across immunity, infection, and reproduction for both males and females in a natural population.
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