Toys and ‘enriched’ surroundings help fight infection in mice

Mice that are given toys and placed in stimulating surroundings have healthier immune systems, according to a study by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). Little is known about the influence of environmental factors on the immune system, but factors such as pollution, location, psychological state and social status have been proposed as determinants in the development of human autoimmune disorders. The research, published in Frontiers in Immunology , provides the first evidence that an enriched environment influences the function of T cells - a type of white blood cell that is essential for immunity, and involved in HIV, rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic diseases. The study found that a simple set of alterations to a mouse's living space for a brief period of time caused dramatic changes to their T cells which made them more prone to having a protective inflammatory effect. Mice were housed either in normal or 'enriched' environments for two weeks. The normal environment consisted of a standard mouse cage filled with sawdust and nesting material. To provide a richer, 'multisensorial' standard of living, the enriched environment had a wider cage with wood shavings and toys, including a coloured nest-box, fabric tube, running wheel and swing.