Glucocorticoids and development of the immune system

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Stress has major effects on the immune system of all vertebrate animals. Long-term stress can have serious negative consequences for the survival and function of immune cells. In particular, early life stress can “program” the immune system and have enduring consequences on animals that last well into adulthood. Glucocorticoids are hormones that increase in response to a variety of stressors. These hormones are secreted from the adrenal glands and, via the blood, reach their distant targets (for example, cells in the thymus and bone marrow, where important immune cells develop). However, recent research shows that glucocorticoids can also be synthesized within the immune organs themselves, particularly early in life. This project focuses on the local synthesis of glucocorticoids during early development, in both birds and mammals. In particular, how are local glucocorticoid levels regulated by environmental stressors? How do these local glucocorticoids act on immune cells? Do local glucocorticoids have long-lasting or transient effects? The answers to these questions will help us understand how stress affects young and adult animals. This fundamental knowledge will be broadly applicable to a wide range of vertebrate species and will be used by researchers in a variety of disciplines, including ecology, endocrinology, immunology, and molecular biology.