Spatial memory performance associated with measures of immune function in elderly female rhesus macaques - 31/03/11

Doi : 10.1016/j.eurger.2011.01.002

G.E. Haley ^a,^b, H.F. Urbanski ^a,^b,^d, S.G. Kohama ^b, I. Messaoudi ^b,^c,^⁎ , J. Raber ^a,^⁎,^b,^e
^a Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, L470, 3181, SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, United States
^b Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006, United States
^c Division of Pathobiology and Immunology, Oregon National Primate Research Center and Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Beaverton, OR 97006, United States
^d Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, United States
^e Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland OR 97239, United States

Corresponding author. Tel.: +503 494 1524; fax: +503 494 6877.Tel.: +503 418 2734; fax: +503 418 2701.

Abstract

We recently reported that in aged female rhesus macaques, spatial learning and memory correlates with circadian sleep-wake measures and hippocampal muscarinic type 1 (M₁) receptor binding. To investigate if spatial memory also correlates with measures of immune function, we assessed the magnitude of the adaptive immune response to vaccination in the same old female rhesus macaques. Cognitively characterized animals were classified as good spatial performers (GSP) or poor spatial performers (PSP) based on performance in the Spatial Foodport maze. The GSP group had higher frequency of CD8, but not CD4, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) producing cells following vaccination compared to the PSP group, suggesting a stronger CD8 T cell response in the GSP group. In addition, the number of CD-8 IFN-γ positive cells correlated with measures of sleep quality. Interestingly, the PSP group had a significantly higher antibody titer compared to the GSP group, and antibody titer negatively correlated with day-time activity. Thus, in aged female rhesus macaques, superior cognitive performance is correlated with a more robust CD8 T cell response but a reduced antibody response to vaccination.

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Keywords : Spatial learning and memory, Immune senescence, Circadian activity