1
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Pepke ML. Telomere length is not a useful tool for chronological age estimation in animals. Bioessays 2024; 46:e2300187. [PMID: 38047504 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202300187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are short repetitive DNA sequences capping the ends of chromosomes. Telomere shortening occurs during cell division and may be accelerated by oxidative damage or ameliorated by telomere maintenance mechanisms. Consequently, telomere length changes with age, which was recently confirmed in a large meta-analysis across vertebrates. However, based on the correlation between telomere length and age, it was concluded that telomere length can be used as a tool for chronological age estimation in animals. Correlation should not be confused with predictability, and the current data and studies suggest that telomeres cannot be used to reliably predict individual chronological age. There are biological reasons for why there is large individual variation in telomere dynamics, which is mainly due to high susceptibility to a wide range of environmental, but also genetic factors, rendering telomeres unfeasible as a tool for age estimation. The use of telomeres for chronological age estimation is largely a misguided effort, but its occasional reappearance in the literature raises concerns that it will mislead resources in wildlife conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Pepke
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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2
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Le Clercq LS, Kotzé A, Grobler JP, Dalton DL. Biological clocks as age estimation markers in animals: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:1972-2011. [PMID: 37356823 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Various biological attributes associated with individual fitness in animals change predictably over the lifespan of an organism. Therefore, the study of animal ecology and the work of conservationists frequently relies upon the ability to assign animals to functionally relevant age classes to model population fitness. Several approaches have been applied to determining individual age and, while these methods have proved useful, they are not without limitations and often lack standardisation or are only applicable to specific species. For these reasons, scientists have explored the potential use of biological clocks towards creating a universal age-determination method. Two biological clocks, tooth layer annulation and otolith layering have found universal appeal. Both methods are highly invasive and most appropriate for post-mortem age-at-death estimation. More recently, attributes of cellular ageing previously explored in humans have been adapted to studying ageing in animals for the use of less-invasive molecular methods for determining age. Here, we review two such methods, assessment of methylation and telomere length, describing (i) what they are, (ii) how they change with age, and providing (iii) a summary and meta-analysis of studies that have explored their utility in animal age determination. We found that both attributes have been studied across multiple vertebrate classes, however, telomere studies were used before methylation studies and telomere length has been modelled in nearly twice as many studies. Telomere length studies included in the review often related changes to stress responses and illustrated that telomere length is sensitive to environmental and social stressors and, in the absence of repair mechanisms such as telomerase or alternative lengthening modes, lacks the ability to recover. Methylation studies, however, while also detecting sensitivity to stressors and toxins, illustrated the ability to recover from such stresses after a period of accelerated ageing, likely due to constitutive expression or reactivation of repair enzymes such as DNA methyl transferases. We also found that both studied attributes have parentally heritable features, but the mode of inheritance differs among taxa and may relate to heterogamy. Our meta-analysis included more than 40 species in common for methylation and telomere length, although both analyses included at least 60 age-estimation models. We found that methylation outperforms telomere length in terms of predictive power evidenced from effect sizes (more than double that observed for telomeres) and smaller prediction intervals. Both methods produced age correlation models using similar sample sizes and were able to classify individuals into young, middle, or old age classes with high accuracy. Our review and meta-analysis illustrate that both methods are well suited to studying age in animals and do not suffer significantly from variation due to differences in the lifespan of the species, genome size, karyotype, or tissue type but rather that quantitative method, patterns of inheritance, and environmental factors should be the main considerations. Thus, provided that complex factors affecting the measured trait can be accounted for, both methylation and telomere length are promising targets to develop as biomarkers for age determination in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis-Stéphane Le Clercq
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, P.O. Box 754, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
- Department of Genetics, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
| | - Antoinette Kotzé
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, P.O. Box 754, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
- Department of Genetics, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
| | - J Paul Grobler
- Department of Genetics, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
| | - Desiré Lee Dalton
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, TS1 3BA, UK
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3
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Rouan A, Pousse M, Djerbi N, Porro B, Bourdin G, Carradec Q, Hume BC, Poulain J, Lê-Hoang J, Armstrong E, Agostini S, Salazar G, Ruscheweyh HJ, Aury JM, Paz-García DA, McMinds R, Giraud-Panis MJ, Deshuraud R, Ottaviani A, Morini LD, Leone C, Wurzer L, Tran J, Zoccola D, Pey A, Moulin C, Boissin E, Iwankow G, Romac S, de Vargas C, Banaigs B, Boss E, Bowler C, Douville E, Flores M, Reynaud S, Thomas OP, Troublé R, Thurber RV, Planes S, Allemand D, Pesant S, Galand PE, Wincker P, Sunagawa S, Röttinger E, Furla P, Voolstra CR, Forcioli D, Lombard F, Gilson E. Telomere DNA length regulation is influenced by seasonal temperature differences in short-lived but not in long-lived reef-building corals. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3038. [PMID: 37263999 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38499-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are environment-sensitive regulators of health and aging. Here,we present telomere DNA length analysis of two reef-building coral genera revealing that the long- and short-term water thermal regime is a key driver of between-colony variation across the Pacific Ocean. Notably, there are differences between the two studied genera. The telomere DNA lengths of the short-lived, more stress-sensitive Pocillopora spp. colonies were largely determined by seasonal temperature variation, whereas those of the long-lived, more stress-resistant Porites spp. colonies were insensitive to seasonal patterns, but rather influenced by past thermal anomalies. These results reveal marked differences in telomere DNA length regulation between two evolutionary distant coral genera exhibiting specific life-history traits. We propose that environmentally regulated mechanisms of telomere maintenance are linked to organismal performances, a matter of paramount importance considering the effects of climate change on health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Rouan
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France.
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France.
| | - Melanie Pousse
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche-Ressources Marines (IFR MARRES), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Nadir Djerbi
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche-Ressources Marines (IFR MARRES), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Barbara Porro
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche-Ressources Marines (IFR MARRES), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | | | - Quentin Carradec
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
| | - Benjamin Cc Hume
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Julie Poulain
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
| | - Julie Lê-Hoang
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
| | - Eric Armstrong
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
| | - Sylvain Agostini
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Japan
| | - Guillem Salazar
- Department of Biology, Institute of Microbiology and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hans-Joachim Ruscheweyh
- Department of Biology, Institute of Microbiology and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Marc Aury
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
| | - David A Paz-García
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Av. IPN 195, La Paz, Baja California Sur, 23096, La Paz, México
| | - Ryan McMinds
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
- University of South Florida Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Tampa, FL, USA
- Maison de la Modélisation, de la Simulation et des Interactions (MSI),, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Marie-Josèphe Giraud-Panis
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche-Ressources Marines (IFR MARRES), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Romane Deshuraud
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche-Ressources Marines (IFR MARRES), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Alexandre Ottaviani
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche-Ressources Marines (IFR MARRES), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Lycia Die Morini
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
| | - Camille Leone
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
| | - Lia Wurzer
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
| | - Jessica Tran
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
| | - Didier Zoccola
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Principality of Monaco, Monaco, Monaco
| | - Alexis Pey
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche-Ressources Marines (IFR MARRES), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Clémentine Moulin
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
- Tara Ocean Foundation, 8 rue de Prague, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Emilie Boissin
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL," PSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Guillaume Iwankow
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL," PSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Sarah Romac
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Station Biologique de Roscoff, AD2M, UMR 7144, ECOMAP, Roscoff, France
| | - Colomban de Vargas
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Station Biologique de Roscoff, AD2M, UMR 7144, ECOMAP, Roscoff, France
| | - Bernard Banaigs
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL," PSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Emmanuel Boss
- School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Chris Bowler
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
- Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Eric Douville
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, LSCE/IPSL, CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, Université Paris-Saclay, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Michel Flores
- Weizmann Institute of Science, Department of Earth, and Planetary Sciences, 76100, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Stéphanie Reynaud
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Principality of Monaco, Monaco, Monaco
| | - Olivier P Thomas
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, University Road, H91TK33, Galway, Ireland
| | - Romain Troublé
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
- Tara Ocean Foundation, 8 rue de Prague, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Rebecca Vega Thurber
- Oregon State University, Department of Microbiology, 220 Nash Hall, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Serge Planes
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL," PSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Denis Allemand
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Principality of Monaco, Monaco, Monaco
| | - Stephane Pesant
- European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK, UK
| | - Pierre E Galand
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques (LECOB), Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | - Patrick Wincker
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
| | - Shinichi Sunagawa
- Department of Biology, Institute of Microbiology and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eric Röttinger
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche-Ressources Marines (IFR MARRES), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Paola Furla
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche-Ressources Marines (IFR MARRES), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | | | - Didier Forcioli
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche-Ressources Marines (IFR MARRES), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Fabien Lombard
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Mer de Villefranche sur mer, Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Ministère chargé de l'enseignement supérieur, Paris, France
| | - Eric Gilson
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France.
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France.
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche-Ressources Marines (IFR MARRES), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France.
- Department of Medical Genetics, CHU, Nice, France.
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Longitudinal telomere dynamics within natural lifespans of a wild bird. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4272. [PMID: 36922555 PMCID: PMC10017829 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31435-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeres, the nucleotide sequences that protect the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes, shorten with each cell division and telomere loss may be influenced by environmental factors. Telomere length (TL) decreases with age in several species, but little is known about the sources of genetic and environmental variation in the change in TL (∆TL) in wild animals. In this study, we tracked changes in TL throughout the natural lifespan (from a few months to almost 9 years) of free-living house sparrows (Passer domesticus) in two different island populations. TL was measured in nestlings and subsequently up to four times during their lifetime. TL generally decreased with age (senescence), but we also observed instances of telomere lengthening within individuals. We found some evidence for selective disappearance of individuals with shorter telomeres through life. Early-life TL positively predicted later-life TL, but the within-individual repeatability in TL was low (9.2%). Using genetic pedigrees, we found a moderate heritability of ∆TL (h2 = 0.21), which was higher than the heritabilities of early-life TL (h2 = 0.14) and later-life TL measurements (h2 = 0.15). Cohort effects explained considerable proportions of variation in early-life TL (60%), later-life TL (53%), and ∆TL (37%), which suggests persistent impacts of the early-life environment on lifelong telomere dynamics. Individual changes in TL were independent of early-life TL. Finally, there was weak evidence for population differences in ∆TL that may be linked to ecological differences in habitat types. Combined, our results show that individual telomere biology is highly dynamic and influenced by both genetic and environmental variation in natural conditions.
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Carbillet J, Hollain M, Rey B, Palme R, Pellerin M, Regis C, Geffré A, Duhayer J, Pardonnet S, Debias F, Merlet J, Lemaître JF, Verheyden H, Gilot-Fromont E. Age and spatio-temporal variations in food resources modulate stress-immunity relationships in three populations of wild roe deer. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 330:114141. [PMID: 36272446 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2022.114141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Living in variable and unpredictable environments, organisms face recurrent stressful situations. The endocrine stress response, which includes the secretion of glucocorticoids, helps organisms to cope with these perturbations. Although short-term elevations of glucocorticoid levels are often associated with immediate beneficial consequences for individuals, long-term glucocorticoid elevation can compromise key physiological functions such as immunity. While laboratory works highlighted the immunosuppressive effect of long-term elevated glucocorticoids, it remains largely unknown, especially in wild animals, whether this relationship is modulated by individual and environmental characteristics. In this study, we explored the co-variation between integrated cortisol levels, assessed non-invasively using faecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs), and 12 constitutive indices of innate, inflammatory, and adaptive immune functions, in wild roe deer living in three populations with previously known contrasting environmental conditions. Using longitudinal data on 564 individuals, we further investigated whether age and spatio-temporal variations in the quantity and quality of food resources modulate the relationship between FCMs and immunity. Negative covariation with glucocorticoids was evident only for innate and inflammatory markers of immunity, while adaptive immunity appeared to be positively or not linked to glucocorticoids. In addition, the negative covariations were generally stronger in individuals facing harsh environmental constraints and in old individuals. Therefore, our results highlight the importance of measuring multiple immune markers of immunity in individuals from contrasted environments to unravel the complex relationships between glucocorticoids and immunity in wild animals. Our results also help explain conflicting results found in the literature and could improve our understanding of the link between elevated glucocorticoid levels and disease spread, and its consequences on population dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Carbillet
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, Castanet Tolosan, 31326, France; LTSER ZA PYRénées GARonne, Auzeville-Tolosane, 31320, France; Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Marcy-l'Etoile, 69280, France; Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu 51014, Estonia.
| | - Marine Hollain
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne Cedex 69100, France; Office Français de la biodiversité, Direction de la Recherche et de l'Appui Scientifique, Service Conservation et Gestion Durable des Espèces Exploitées, Chateauvillain 52210, France
| | - Benjamin Rey
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne Cedex 69100, France
| | - Rupert Palme
- Unit of Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna 1210, Austria
| | - Maryline Pellerin
- Office Français de la biodiversité, Direction de la Recherche et de l'Appui Scientifique, Service Conservation et Gestion Durable des Espèces Exploitées, Chateauvillain 52210, France
| | - Corinne Regis
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne Cedex 69100, France
| | - Anne Geffré
- Equipe de Biologie médicale-Histologie, CREFRE, Inserm-UPS-ENVT, Toulouse 31000, France
| | - Jeanne Duhayer
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne Cedex 69100, France
| | - Sylvia Pardonnet
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne Cedex 69100, France
| | - François Debias
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne Cedex 69100, France
| | - Joël Merlet
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, Castanet Tolosan, 31326, France; LTSER ZA PYRénées GARonne, Auzeville-Tolosane, 31320, France
| | | | - Hélène Verheyden
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, Castanet Tolosan, 31326, France; LTSER ZA PYRénées GARonne, Auzeville-Tolosane, 31320, France
| | - Emmanuelle Gilot-Fromont
- Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Marcy-l'Etoile, 69280, France; Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne Cedex 69100, France
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Pepke ML, Kvalnes T, Rønning B, Jensen H, Boner W, Saether BE, Monaghan P, Ringsby TH. Artificial size selection experiment reveals telomere length dynamics and fitness consequences in a wild passerine. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6224-6238. [PMID: 34997994 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Telomere dynamics could underlie life-history trade-offs among growth, size and longevity, but our ability to quantify such processes in natural, unmanipulated populations is limited. We investigated how 4 years of artificial selection for either larger or smaller tarsus length, a proxy for body size, affected early-life telomere length (TL) and several components of fitness in two insular populations of wild house sparrows over a study period of 11 years. The artificial selection was expected to shift the populations away from their optimal body size and increase the phenotypic variance in body size. Artificial selection for larger individuals caused TL to decrease, but there was little evidence that TL increased when selecting for smaller individuals. There was a negative correlation between nestling TL and tarsus length under both selection regimes. Males had longer telomeres than females and there was a negative effect of harsh weather on TL. We then investigated whether changes in TL might underpin fitness effects due to the deviation from the optimal body size. Mortality analyses indicated disruptive selection on TL because both short and long early-life telomeres tended to be associated with the lowest mortality rates. In addition, there was a tendency for a negative association between TL and annual reproductive success, but only in the population where body size was increased experimentally. Our results suggest that natural selection for optimal body size in the wild may be associated with changes in TL during growth, which is known to be linked to longevity in some bird species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Le Pepke
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Thomas Kvalnes
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Bernt Rønning
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Henrik Jensen
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Winnie Boner
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine (IBAHCM), University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Bernt-Erik Saether
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Pat Monaghan
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine (IBAHCM), University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Thor Harald Ringsby
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
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7
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Remot F, Ronget V, Froy H, Rey B, Gaillard JM, Nussey DH, Lemaitre JF. Decline in telomere length with increasing age across nonhuman vertebrates: A meta-analysis. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:5917-5932. [PMID: 34437736 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The prediction that telomere length (TL) shortens with increasing age is a major element in considering the role of telomeres as a key player in evolution. While telomere attrition is found in humans both in vitro and in vivo, the increasing number of studies reporting diverse age-specific patterns of TL challenges the hypothesis of a universal decline of TL with increasing age. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to estimate the relationship between TL and age across 175 estimates encompassing 98 species of vertebrates. We found that, on average, TL does decline with increasing age during adulthood. However, this decline was weak and variable across vertebrate classes, and we also found evidence for a publication bias that might weaken our current evidence of decreasing TL with increasing age. We found no evidence for a faster decline in TL with increasing age when considering the juvenile stage (from birth to age at first reproduction) compared to the adult stage. Heterogeneity in TL ageing rates was explained by the method used to measure telomeres: detectable TL declines with increasing age were found only among studies using TRF with in-gel hybridisation and qFISH methods, but not in studies using qPCR and Southern blot-based TRF methods. While we confirmed that TL declines with increasing age in most adult vertebrates, our results identify an influence of telomere measurement methodology, which highlights the need to examine more thoroughly the effect of the method of measurement on TL estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florentin Remot
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Victor Ronget
- Unité Eco-anthropologie (EA), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Hannah Froy
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Benjamin Rey
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jean-Michel Gaillard
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Daniel H Nussey
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jean-François Lemaitre
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
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8
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Large mammal telomere length variation across ecoregions. BMC Ecol Evol 2022; 22:105. [PMID: 36038827 PMCID: PMC9426267 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-022-02050-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Telomere length provides a physiological proxy for accumulated stress in animals. While there is a growing consensus over how telomere dynamics and their patterns are linked to life history variation and individual experience, knowledge on the impact of exposure to different stressors at a large spatial scale on telomere length is still lacking. How exposure to different stressors at a regional scale interacts with individual differences in life history is also poorly understood. To better understand large-scale regional influences, we investigated telomere length variation in moose (Alces alces) distributed across three ecoregions. We analyzed 153 samples of 106 moose representing moose of both sexes and range of ages to measure relative telomere lengths (RTL) in white blood cells. Results We found that average RTL was significantly shorter in a northern (montane) and southern (sarmatic) ecoregion where moose experience chronic stress related to severe summer and winter temperatures as well as high anthropogenic land-use compared to the boreal region. Our study suggests that animals in the northern boreal forests, with relatively homogenous land use, are less disturbed by environmental and anthropogenic stressors. In contrast, animals in areas experiencing a higher rate of anthropogenic and environmental change experience increased stress. Conclusion Although animals can often adapt to predictable stressors, our data suggest that some environmental conditions, even though predictable and ubiquitous, can generate population level differences of long-term stress. By measuring RTL in moose for the first time, we provide valuable insights towards our current understanding of telomere biology in free-ranging wildlife in human-modified ecosystems. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12862-022-02050-5.
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9
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Pepke ML, Kvalnes T, Ranke PS, Araya‐Ajoy YG, Wright J, Sæther B, Jensen H, Ringsby TH. Causes and consequences of variation in early-life telomere length in a bird metapopulation. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9144. [PMID: 35923948 PMCID: PMC9339764 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental conditions during early-life development can have lasting effects shaping individual heterogeneity in fitness and fitness-related traits. The length of telomeres, the DNA sequences protecting chromosome ends, may be affected by early-life conditions, and telomere length (TL) has been associated with individual performance within some wild animal populations. Thus, knowledge of the mechanisms that generate variation in TL, and the relationship between TL and fitness, is important in understanding the role of telomeres in ecology and life-history evolution. Here, we investigate how environmental conditions and morphological traits are associated with early-life blood TL and if TL predicts natal dispersal probability or components of fitness in 2746 wild house sparrow (Passer domesticus) nestlings from two populations sampled across 20 years (1994-2013). We retrieved weather data and we monitored population fluctuations, individual survival, and reproductive output using field observations and genetic pedigrees. We found a negative effect of population density on TL, but only in one of the populations. There was a curvilinear association between TL and the maximum daily North Atlantic Oscillation index during incubation, suggesting that there are optimal weather conditions that result in the longest TL. Dispersers tended to have shorter telomeres than non-dispersers. TL did not predict survival, but we found a tendency for individuals with short telomeres to have higher annual reproductive success. Our study showed how early-life TL is shaped by effects of growth, weather conditions, and population density, supporting that environmental stressors negatively affect TL in wild populations. In addition, shorter telomeres may be associated with a faster pace-of-life, as individuals with higher dispersal rates and annual reproduction tended to have shorter early-life TL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Le Pepke
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD)Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
| | - Thomas Kvalnes
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD)Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
| | - Peter Sjolte Ranke
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD)Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
| | - Yimen G. Araya‐Ajoy
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD)Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
| | - Jonathan Wright
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD)Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
| | - Bernt‐Erik Sæther
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD)Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
| | - Henrik Jensen
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD)Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
| | - Thor Harald Ringsby
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD)Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
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10
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Hansen E, Skotnes T, Bustnes JO, Helander B, Eulaers I, Sun J, Covaci A, Bårdsen BJ, Zahn S, Criscuolo F, Bourgeon S. Telomere length in relation to persistent organic pollutant exposure in white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) nestlings from Sweden sampled in 1995-2013. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 208:112712. [PMID: 35016866 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are used as biomarkers of vertebrate health because of the link between their length, lifespan, and survival. Exposure to environmental stressors appears to alter telomere dynamics, but little is known about telomere length and persistent organic pollutant (POP) exposure in wildlife. The white-tailed eagle (WTE; Haliaeetus albicilla) is an avian top predator that accumulates high levels of POPs and may subsequently suffer adverse health effects. Here we study the Baltic WTE population that is well documented to have been exposed to large contaminant burdens, thereby making it a promising candidate species for analyzing pollutant-mediated effects on telomeres. We investigated telomere lengths in WTE nestlings (n = 168) over 19 years and examined legacy POP concentrations (organochlorines and polybrominated diphenyl ethers) in whole blood and serum as potential drivers of differences in telomere length. Although we detected significant year-to-year variations in telomere lengths among the WTE nestlings, telomere lengths did not correlate with any of the investigated POP concentrations of several classes. Given that telomere lengths did not associate with POP contamination in the Baltic WTE nestlings, we propose that other environmental and biological factors, which likely fluctuate on a year-to-year basis, could be more important drivers of telomere lengths in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Hansen
- UiT - the Arctic University of Norway, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Hansine Hansens Veg 18, NO-9019 Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Tove Skotnes
- UiT - the Arctic University of Norway, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Hansine Hansens Veg 18, NO-9019 Tromsø, Norway; Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Framsenteret, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Jan Ove Bustnes
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Framsenteret, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Björn Helander
- Swedish Museum of Natural History, Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Box 50007, SE-10405 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Igor Eulaers
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jiachen Sun
- School of Environment, Jinan University, West Huangpu Avenue 601, 510632 Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, BE-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Bård-Jørgen Bårdsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Framsenteret, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Sandrine Zahn
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Francois Criscuolo
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Sophie Bourgeon
- UiT - the Arctic University of Norway, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Hansine Hansens Veg 18, NO-9019 Tromsø, Norway
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11
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Inbreeding is associated with shorter early-life telomere length in a wild passerine. CONSERV GENET 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-022-01441-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AbstractInbreeding can have negative effects on survival and reproduction, which may be of conservation concern in small and isolated populations. However, the physiological mechanisms underlying inbreeding depression are not well-known. The length of telomeres, the DNA sequences protecting chromosome ends, has been associated with health or fitness in several species. We investigated effects of inbreeding on early-life telomere length in two small island populations of wild house sparrows (Passer domesticus) known to be affected by inbreeding depression. Using genomic measures of inbreeding we found that inbred nestling house sparrows (n = 371) have significantly shorter telomeres. Using pedigree-based estimates of inbreeding we found a tendency for inbred nestling house sparrows to have shorter telomeres (n = 1195). This negative effect of inbreeding on telomere length may have been complemented by a heterosis effect resulting in longer telomeres in individuals that were less inbred than the population average. Furthermore, we found some evidence of stronger effects of inbreeding on telomere length in males than females. Thus, telomere length may reveal subtle costs of inbreeding in the wild and demonstrate a route by which inbreeding negatively impacts the physiological state of an organism already at early life-history stages.
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12
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Cheynel L, Gilot-Fromont E, Rey B, Quéméré E, Débias F, Duhayer J, Pardonnet S, Pellerin M, Gaillard JM, Lemaître JF. Maternal effects shape offspring physiological condition but do not senesce in a wild mammal. J Evol Biol 2021; 34:661-670. [PMID: 33529428 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In vertebrates, offspring survival often decreases with increasing maternal age. While many studies have reported a decline in fitness-related traits of offspring with increasing maternal age, the study of senescence in maternal effect through age-specific changes in offspring physiological condition is still at its infancy. We assessed the influence of maternal age and body mass on offspring physiological condition in two populations of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) subjected to markedly different environmental conditions. We measured seven markers to index body condition and characterize the immune profile in 86 fawns which became recently independent of their known-aged mothers. We did not find striking effects of maternal age on offspring physiological condition measured at 8 months of age. This absence of evidence for senescence in maternal effects is likely due to the strong viability selection observed in the very first months of life in this species. Offspring physiological condition was, on the other hand, positively influenced by maternal body mass. Between-population differences in environmental conditions experienced by fawns also influenced their average body condition and immune phenotype. Fawns facing food limitation displayed lower values in some markers of body condition (body mass and haemoglobin levels) than those living in good quality habitat. They also allocated preferentially to humoral immunity, contrary to those living in good conditions, which allocated more to cellular response. These results shed a new light on the eco-physiological pathways mediating the relationship between mother's mass and offspring condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Cheynel
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Institute of Infection, Veterinary, and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Emmanuelle Gilot-Fromont
- Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Marcy-l'Etoile, France.,Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie 8 Evolutive UMR5558, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Benjamin Rey
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie 8 Evolutive UMR5558, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Erwan Quéméré
- ESE, Ecology and Ecosystems Health, Ouest, INRAE, Rennes, France
| | - François Débias
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie 8 Evolutive UMR5558, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jeanne Duhayer
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie 8 Evolutive UMR5558, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Sylvia Pardonnet
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie 8 Evolutive UMR5558, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Villeurbanne, France
| | | | - Jean-Michel Gaillard
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie 8 Evolutive UMR5558, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jean-François Lemaître
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie 8 Evolutive UMR5558, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Villeurbanne, France
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13
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van Lieshout SHJ, Sparks AM, Bretman A, Newman C, Buesching CD, Burke T, Macdonald DW, Dugdale HL. Estimation of environmental, genetic and parental age at conception effects on telomere length in a wild mammal. J Evol Biol 2020; 34:296-308. [PMID: 33113164 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Understanding individual variation in fitness-related traits requires separating the environmental and genetic determinants. Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that are thought to be a biomarker of senescence as their length predicts mortality risk and reflect the physiological consequences of environmental conditions. The relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors to individual variation in telomere length is, however, unclear, yet important for understanding its evolutionary dynamics. In particular, the evidence for transgenerational effects, in terms of parental age at conception, on telomere length is mixed. Here, we investigate the heritability of telomere length, using the 'animal model', and parental age at conception effects on offspring telomere length in a wild population of European badgers (Meles meles). Although we found no heritability of telomere length and low evolvability (<0.001), our power to detect heritability was low and a repeatability of 2% across individual lifetimes provides a low upper limit to ordinary narrow-sense heritability. However, year (32%) and cohort (3%) explained greater proportions of the phenotypic variance in telomere length, excluding qPCR plate and row variances. There was no support for cross-sectional or within-individual parental age at conception effects on offspring telomere length. Our results indicate a lack of transgenerational effects through parental age at conception and a low potential for evolutionary change in telomere length in this population. Instead, we provide evidence that individual variation in telomere length is largely driven by environmental variation in this wild mammal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sil H J van Lieshout
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.,Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Alexandra M Sparks
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Amanda Bretman
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Chris Newman
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Abingdon, UK
| | - Christina D Buesching
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Abingdon, UK
| | - Terry Burke
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - David W Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Abingdon, UK
| | - Hannah L Dugdale
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.,Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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14
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Power ML, Power S, Bertelsen MF, Jones G, Teeling EC. Wing: A suitable nonlethal tissue type for repeatable and rapid telomere length estimates in bats. Mol Ecol Resour 2020; 21:421-432. [PMID: 33049101 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres are used increasingly in ecology and evolution as biomarkers for ageing and environmental stress, and are typically measured from DNA extracted from nonlethally sampled blood. However, obtaining blood is not always possible in field conditions and only limited amounts can be taken from small mammals, such as bats, which moreover lack nucleated red blood cells and hence yield relatively low amounts of DNA. As telomere length can vary within species according to age and tissue, it is important to determine which tissues serve best as a representation of the organism as a whole. Here, we investigated whether wing tissue biopsies, a rapid and relatively noninvasive tissue collection method, could serve as a proxy for other tissues when measuring relative telomere length (rTL) in the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus). Telomeres were measured from blood, brain, heart, kidney, liver lung, muscle and wing, and multiple wing biopsies were taken from the same individuals to determine intra-individual repeatability of rTL measured by using qPCR. Wing rTL correlated with rTL estimates from most tissues apart from blood. Blood rTL was not significantly correlated with rTL from any other tissue. Blood and muscle rTLs were significantly longer compared with other tissues, while lung displayed the shortest rTLs. Individual repeatability of rTL measures from wing tissue was high (>70%). Here we show the relationships between tissue telomere dynamics for the first time in a bat, and our results provide support for the use of wing tissue for rTL measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L Power
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre West, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sarahjane Power
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre West, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mads F Bertelsen
- Center for Zoo and Wild Animal Health, Copenhagen Zoo, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Gareth Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Emma C Teeling
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre West, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
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15
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Lemaître JF, Carbillet J, Rey B, Palme R, Froy H, Wilbourn RV, Underwood SL, Cheynel L, Gaillard JM, Hewison AJM, Verheyden H, Débias F, Duhayer J, Régis C, Pardonnet S, Pellerin M, Nussey DH, Gilot-Fromont E. Short-term telomere dynamics is associated with glucocorticoid levels in wild populations of roe deer. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2020; 252:110836. [PMID: 33144154 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2020.110836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
While evidence that telomere length is associated with health and mortality in humans and birds is accumulating, a large body of research is currently seeking to identify factors that modulate telomere dynamics. We tested the hypothesis that high levels of glucocorticoids in individuals under environmental stress should accelerate telomere shortening in two wild populations of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) living in different ecological contexts. From two consecutive annual sampling sessions, we found that individuals with faster rates of telomere shortening had higher concentrations of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites, suggesting a functional link between glucocorticoid levels and telomere attrition rate. This relationship was consistent for both sexes and populations. This finding paves the way for further studies of the fitness consequences of exposure to environmental stressors in wild vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-François Lemaître
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Jeffrey Carbillet
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, F-31326 Castanet Tolosan, France; Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Marcy-l'Etoile, France
| | - Benjamin Rey
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Rupert Palme
- Unit of Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Hannah Froy
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK; Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Rachael V Wilbourn
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Sarah L Underwood
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Louise Cheynel
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary, and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Jean-Michel Gaillard
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - A J Mark Hewison
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, F-31326 Castanet Tolosan, France
| | - Hélène Verheyden
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, F-31326 Castanet Tolosan, France
| | - François Débias
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jeanne Duhayer
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Corinne Régis
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Sylvia Pardonnet
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | | | - Daniel H Nussey
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Emmanuelle Gilot-Fromont
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France; Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Marcy-l'Etoile, France
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16
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Remot F, Ronget V, Froy H, Rey B, Gaillard JM, Nussey DH, Lemaître JF. No sex differences in adult telomere length across vertebrates: a meta-analysis. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:200548. [PMID: 33391781 PMCID: PMC7735339 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.200548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In many mammalian species, females live on average longer than males. In humans, women have consistently longer telomeres than men, and this has led to speculation that sex differences in telomere length (TL) could play a role in sex differences in longevity. To address the generality and drivers of patterns of sex differences in TL across vertebrates, we performed meta-analyses across 51 species. We tested two main evolutionary hypotheses proposed to explain sex differences in TL, namely the heterogametic sex disadvantage and the sexual selection hypotheses. We found no support for consistent sex differences in TL between males and females among mammal, bird, fish and reptile species. This absence of sex differences in TL across different classes of vertebrates does not support the heterogametic sex disadvantage hypothesis. Likewise, the absence of any negative effect of sexual size dimorphism on male TL suggests that sexual selection is not likely to mediate the magnitude of sex differences in TL across vertebrates. Finally, the comparative analyses we conducted did not detect any association between sex differences in TL and sex differences in longevity, which does not support the idea that sex differences in TL could explain the observed sex differences in longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florentin Remot
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Victor Ronget
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Hannah Froy
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Benjamin Rey
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jean-Michel Gaillard
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Daniel H. Nussey
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Jean-François Lemaître
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
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17
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Seeker LA. Telomere shortening correlates with harsh weather conditions in the bat species Myotis myotis. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:2951-2953. [PMID: 32745307 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The relationship of telomere shortening and cellular ageing in cultured cells such as fibroblasts is straightforward: telomeres shorten with an increasing number of cell divisions until they trigger replicative senescence which prevents further mitotic cycles. But studies investigating the relationship between telomere shortening and ageing in whole organisms show contrasting results: while there is a clear decline in telomere length (TL) with chronological age in some species such as humans, no such decline is observed in others. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Foley et al. (2020) show that experiencing harsh weather conditions correlates with longitudinal telomere shortening in the bat species Myotis myotis, whereas chronological age does not (Foley et al., 2020). Further, the authors investigated whether genetics influence TL and find a low heritability (h2 = 0.01-0.06) again suggesting that environmental effects are the dominant drivers of variation in TL in this species. These are important findings as there is disagreement in the literature about the relative magnitude of genetic and environmental effects contributing to TL variation in different species. This paper investigating the impact of environmental effects makes a novel and important contribution to the literature on TL in free-living mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luise A Seeker
- MRC Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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18
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The nuts and bolts of animal emotion. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 113:273-286. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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19
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Contrasting seasonal patterns of telomere dynamics in response to environmental conditions in the ectothermic sand lizard, Lacerta agilis. Sci Rep 2020; 10:182. [PMID: 31932620 PMCID: PMC6957525 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-57084-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeres, the protective, terminal parts of the chromosomes erode during cell division and as a result of oxidative damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Ectotherms rely on the ambient temperature for maintaining temperature-dependent metabolic rate, regulated through behavioural thermoregulation. Their temperature-dependant metabolism, hence also the ROS production, is indirectly regulated through thermoregulation. Consequently, a potential causal chain affecting telomere length and attrition is: temperature (in particular, its deviation from a species-specific optimum) – metabolism - ROS production – anti-oxidation - telomere erosion. We measured telomere length in sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) using qPCR on blood samples from 1998–2006. Effects of climatological parameters (mean temperature and average sunshine hours) in the summer and winter preceding telomere sampling were used as predictors of telomere length in mixed model analysis. During the lizards’ active period (summer), there was a largely negative effect of mean temperature and sun on telomere length, whereas a combined measure of age and size (head length) was positively related to telomere length. During the inactive period of lizards (winter), the results were largely the opposite with a positive relationship between temperature and sunshine hours and telomere length. In all four cases, thermal and age effects on telomere length appeared to be non-linear in the two sexes and seasons, with complex response surface effects on telomere length from combined age and thermal effects.
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20
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Bichet C, Bouwhuis S, Bauch C, Verhulst S, Becker PH, Vedder O. Telomere length is repeatable, shortens with age and reproductive success, and predicts remaining lifespan in a long‐lived seabird. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:429-441. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.15331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Christina Bauch
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | | | - Oscar Vedder
- Institute of Avian Research Wilhelmshaven Germany
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
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21
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Chatelain M, Drobniak SM, Szulkin M. The association between stressors and telomeres in non‐human vertebrates: a meta‐analysis. Ecol Lett 2019; 23:381-398. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.13426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marion Chatelain
- Centre of New Technologies University of Warsaw Banacha 2C 02‐097 Warszawa Poland
| | - Szymon M. Drobniak
- Institute of Environmental Sciences Jagiellonian University Gronostajowa 7 30‐387 Kraków Poland
- Ecology & Evolution Research Centre School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney Australia
| | - Marta Szulkin
- Centre of New Technologies University of Warsaw Banacha 2C 02‐097 Warszawa Poland
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22
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Ilska-Warner JJ, Psifidi A, Seeker LA, Wilbourn RV, Underwood SL, Fairlie J, Whitelaw B, Nussey DH, Coffey MP, Banos G. The Genetic Architecture of Bovine Telomere Length in Early Life and Association With Animal Fitness. Front Genet 2019; 10:1048. [PMID: 31749836 PMCID: PMC6843005 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Health and survival are key goals for selective breeding in farm animals. Progress, however, is often limited by the low heritability of these animal fitness traits in addition to measurement difficulties. In this respect, relevant early-life biomarkers may be useful for breeding purposes. Telomere length (TL), measured in leukocytes, is a good candidate biomarker since TL has been associated with health, ageing, and stress in humans and other species. However, telomere studies are very limited in farm animals. Here, we examined the genetic background, genomic architecture, and factors affecting bovine TL measurements in early life, and the association of the latter with animal fitness traits expressed later in life associated with survival, longevity, health, and reproduction. We studied two TL measurements, one at birth (TLB) and another during the first lactation (TLFL) of a cow. We performed a genome-wide association study of dairy cattle TL, the first in a non-human species, and found that TLB and TLFL are complex, polygenic, moderately heritable, and highly correlated traits. However, genomic associations with distinct chromosomal regions were identified for the two traits suggesting that their genomic architecture is not identical. This is reflected in changes in TL throughout an individual’s life. TLB had a significant association with survival, length of productive life and future health status of the animal, and could be potentially used as an early-life biomarker for disease predisposition and longevity in dairy cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna J Ilska-Warner
- Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Scotland's Rural College, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Androniki Psifidi
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Luise A Seeker
- Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Scotland's Rural College, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Rachael V Wilbourn
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah L Underwood
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer Fairlie
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Bruce Whitelaw
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel H Nussey
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Mike P Coffey
- Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Scotland's Rural College, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Georgios Banos
- Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Scotland's Rural College, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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23
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Lieshout SHJ, Bretman A, Newman C, Buesching CD, Macdonald DW, Dugdale HL. Individual variation in early‐life telomere length and survival in a wild mammal. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:4152-4165. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.15212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sil H. J. Lieshout
- School of Biology Faculty of Biological Sciences University of Leeds Leeds UK
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - Amanda Bretman
- School of Biology Faculty of Biological Sciences University of Leeds Leeds UK
| | - Chris Newman
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit Department of Zoology University of Oxford Abingdon UK
| | - Christina D. Buesching
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit Department of Zoology University of Oxford Abingdon UK
| | - David W. Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit Department of Zoology University of Oxford Abingdon UK
| | - Hannah L. Dugdale
- School of Biology Faculty of Biological Sciences University of Leeds Leeds UK
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24
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Graham JL, Bauer CM, Heidinger BJ, Ketterson ED, Greives TJ. Early‐breeding females experience greater telomere loss. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:114-126. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Revised: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L. Graham
- Department of Biological Sciences North Dakota State University Fargo North Dakota
| | | | - Britt J. Heidinger
- Department of Biological Sciences North Dakota State University Fargo North Dakota
| | | | - Timothy J. Greives
- Department of Biological Sciences North Dakota State University Fargo North Dakota
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25
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Cheynel L, Douhard F, Gilot-Fromont E, Rey B, Débias F, Pardonnet S, Carbillet J, Verheyden H, Hewison AJM, Pellerin M, Gaillard JM, Lemaître JF. Does body growth impair immune function in a large herbivore? Oecologia 2018; 189:55-68. [PMID: 30470888 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-018-4310-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
According to the principle of allocation, trade-offs are inevitable when resources allocated to one biological function are no longer available for other functions. Growth, and to a lesser extent, immunity are energetically costly functions that may compete with allocation to reproductive success and survival. However, whether high allocation to growth impairs immune system development during the growing period or immune system performance during adulthood is currently unknown in wild mammals. Using three roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) populations experiencing contrasting environmental conditions, we tested for potential costs of growth on immune phenotype over both the short-term (during growth), and the long-term (during adulthood) over the course of an individuals' life. We investigated potential costs on a set of 12 immune traits that reflect both innate and adaptive responses, and compared them between sexes and populations. Although fast growth tended to be associated with low levels of some humoral traits (globulins) during the growing period and some cellular immune traits (i.e. eosinophil and neutrophil counts) during adulthood, evidence for a trade-off between growth and other immune components was limited. Unexpectedly, no detectable growth costs on immunity were found in females from the population experiencing the least favourable environment. We discuss our findings in the light of the complex interplay between resource allocation strategies among reproduction, maintenance and immunity, in relation to local environmental conditions experienced by roe deer.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Cheynel
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne Cedex, France.
| | - F Douhard
- GenPhySE, Université de Toulouse, INRA, INPT, INP-ENVT, 31320, Castanet Tolosan, France
| | - E Gilot-Fromont
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
- Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Marcy-l'Etoile, France
| | - B Rey
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - F Débias
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - S Pardonnet
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - J Carbillet
- CEFS, Université de Toulouse, INRA, Castanet Tolosan, France
| | - H Verheyden
- CEFS, Université de Toulouse, INRA, Castanet Tolosan, France
| | - A J M Hewison
- CEFS, Université de Toulouse, INRA, Castanet Tolosan, France
| | - M Pellerin
- Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, Centre National de Recherches Appliquées sur les Cervidés-Sanglier, Bar-le-Duc, France
| | - J-M Gaillard
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - J-F Lemaître
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne Cedex, France
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26
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Seeker LA, Ilska JJ, Psifidi A, Wilbourn RV, Underwood SL, Fairlie J, Holland R, Froy H, Salvo-Chirnside E, Bagnall A, Whitelaw B, Coffey MP, Nussey DH, Banos G. Bovine telomere dynamics and the association between telomere length and productive lifespan. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12748. [PMID: 30143784 PMCID: PMC6109064 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31185-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Average telomere length (TL) in blood cells has been shown to decline with age in a range of vertebrate species, and there is evidence that TL is a heritable trait associated with late-life health and mortality in humans. In non-human mammals, few studies to date have examined lifelong telomere dynamics and no study has estimated the heritability of TL, despite these being important steps towards assessing the potential of TL as a biomarker of productive lifespan and health in livestock species. Here we measured relative leukocyte TL (RLTL) in 1,328 samples from 308 Holstein Friesian dairy cows and in 284 samples from 38 female calves. We found that RLTL declines after birth but remains relatively stable in adult life. We also calculated the first heritability estimates of RLTL in a livestock species which were 0.38 (SE = 0.03) and 0.32 (SE = 0.08) for the cow and the calf dataset, respectively. RLTL measured at the ages of one and five years were positively correlated with productive lifespan (p < 0.05). We conclude that bovine RLTL is a heritable trait, and its association with productive lifespan may be used in breeding programmes aiming to enhance cow longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luise A Seeker
- Animal & Veterinary Sciences Group, SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK.
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK.
| | - Joanna J Ilska
- Animal & Veterinary Sciences Group, SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK
| | - Androniki Psifidi
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK
- Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, UK
| | - Rachael V Wilbourn
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | - Sarah L Underwood
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | - Jennifer Fairlie
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | - Rebecca Holland
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | - Hannah Froy
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | | | | | - Bruce Whitelaw
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK
| | - Mike P Coffey
- Animal & Veterinary Sciences Group, SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK
| | - Daniel H Nussey
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | - Georgios Banos
- Animal & Veterinary Sciences Group, SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK
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