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. 2016 Jul;43(4):382-96.
doi: 10.1080/03014460.2016.1189963. Epub 2016 Jun 9.

Immune function in Amazonian horticulturalists

Aaron D Blackwell  1   2 , Benjamin C Trumble  1   2   3   4 , Ivan Maldonado Suarez  2 , Jonathan Stieglitz  2   5   6 , Bret Beheim  2   5 , J Josh Snodgrass  7 , Hillard Kaplan  2   5 , Michael Gurven  1   2
Affiliations

Immune function in Amazonian horticulturalists

Aaron D Blackwell et al. Ann Hum Biol. 2016 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Amazonian populations are exposed to diverse parasites and pathogens, including protozoal, bacterial, fungal and helminthic infections. Yet much knowledge of the immune system is based on industrialised populations where these infections are relatively rare.

Aim: This study examines distributions and age-related differences in 22 measures of immune function for Bolivian forager-horticulturalists and US and European populations.

Subjects and methods: Subjects were 6338 Tsimane aged 0-90 years. Blood samples collected between 2004-2014 were analysed for 5-part blood differentials, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and total immunoglobulins E, G, A and M. Flow cytometry was used to quantify naïve and non-naïve CD4 and CD8 T cells, natural killer cells, and B cells.

Results: Compared to reference populations, Tsimane have elevated levels of most immunological parameters, particularly immunoglobulins, eosinophils, ESR, B cells, and natural killer cells. However, monocytes and basophils are reduced and naïve CD4 cells depleted in older age groups.

Conclusion: Tsimane ecology leads to lymphocyte repertoires and immunoglobulin profiles that differ from those observed in industrialised populations. These differences have consequences for disease susceptibility and co-vary with patterns of other life history traits, such as growth and reproduction.

Keywords: Immune function; South America; Tsimane; horticulturalists; life history.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Tsimane sampling history. Darker shading indicates that more samples were analysed at a given time-point.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Innate immune responses in Tsimane (red) and reference populations (blue). Shading indicates the 5th and 9th percentiles, solid lines the median value. Note y-axes are logged except for ESR and basophils.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Humoral and TH2 activated immune responses in Tsimane (red) and reference populations (blue). Shading indicates the 5th and 9th percentiles, solid lines the median value. Note y-axes are logged.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Naïve and non-naïve T cell counts in Tsimane (red) and reference populations (blue). Shading indicates the 5th and 9th percentiles, solid lines the median value. Note y-axes are logged.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Ratio of median Tsimane immunological values to median values from reference populations, by age group. Note the y-axis is logged and discontinuous.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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