Journal article
Significant decline in anticancer immune capacity during puberty in the Tasmanian devil
Y Cheng, K Heasman, S Peck, E Peel, RM Gooley, AT Papenfuss, CJ Hogg, K Belov
Scientific Reports | NATURE PORTFOLIO | Published : 2017
DOI: 10.1038/srep44716
Open access
Abstract
Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) are at risk of extinction in the wild due to Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), a rare contagious cancer. The prevalence of DFTD differs by age class: higher disease prevalence is seen in adults (2-3 years) versus younger devils (<2 years). Here we propose that immunological changes during puberty may play a role in susceptibility to DFTD. We show that the second year of life is a key developmental period for Tasmanian devils, during which they undergo puberty and pronounced changes in the immune system. Puberty coincides with a significant decrease in lymphocyte abundance resulting in a much higher neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio in adults than subadults..
View full abstractGrants
Awarded by Australian Research Council
Funding Acknowledgements
This work was funded by Australian Research Council Discovery Project DP140103260. We thank Devil Ark, the WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, and the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program for providing access to animals and assisting with sample collection. We acknowledge the Veterinary Pathology Diagnostic Service at the University of Sydney for providing haematological analysis service. Special thanks for our volunteers who helped with sample collection, including Vanessa Barrs, Julia Beatty, Christie Budd, Rebecca Gooley, Christine Griebsch, Elissa Kadar, Alan Marcus, Louise McGregor, Alicia McLuckie, Jessica Talbot, Lydia Tong, Jelena Vukcevic, Bianca Waud, Mark Westman, Joanna Whitney, and Mariko Yata.