---
title: "Torpor-Induced Reversible Immune Suppression in Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrels: Mechanisms and Ce"
id: "biorxiv-1-mechanistic-investigation-of-reversible-hibernation-driven-immune-suppression"
canonical_url: "https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/biorxiv-1-mechanistic-investigation-of-reversible-hibernation-driven-immune-suppression"
content_type: "clinical_feed_article"
specialty: "General"
source_name: "bioRxiv (Biomedical Preprints)"
source_url: "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.14.750722v1?rss=1"
published_at: "2026-09-21T11:56:41.000Z"
evidence_level: "Verified Feed"
license: "CC-BY-NC-4.0 / Informational Use"
---
# Torpor-Induced Reversible Immune Suppression in Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrels: Mechanisms and Ce
## Provenance & Clinical Metadata
- **Canonical URL:** https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/biorxiv-1-mechanistic-investigation-of-reversible-hibernation-driven-immune-suppression
- **Specialty:** [General](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/general.md)
- **Primary Source:** bioRxiv (Biomedical Preprints)
- **Source URL:** [Original Journal Publication](https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.14.750722v1?rss=1)
- **Published At:** 2026-09-21T11:56:41.000Z
- **Evidence Rating:** Verified Feed
## Executive GIST (TL;DR)
- The study used **single-cell RNA sequencing** and quantitative image analysis of spleen tissue to characterize immune remodeling during natural torpor in the thirteen-lined ground squirrel. - During torpor the splenic white pulp contracted markedly, with preferential loss of **B cell** and **T cell** adaptive niches while **innate myeloid** populations were relatively preserved. - Across immune lineages, a conserved transcriptional program of **metabolic downscaling** was observed: suppression of glycolysis, cell-cycle progression, RNA processing, and translation, reduced glucose transporter expression, and induction of cold-shock RNA-binding proteins. - Despite metabolic quiescence, immune cells retained lineage identity: B cells showed both numerical and transcriptional contraction associated with follicular remodeling; T cells entered a quiescent, stress-resistant state without evidence of increased apoptosis. - Innate cells remained numerically enriched but transcriptionally restrained, consistent with low-energy tissue surveillance rather than inflammatory activation. - The authors interpret torpor as a coordinated, multi-tiered, reversible state of immune suppression that conserves energy while preserving essential immune infrastructure for rapid restoration after arousal. - Key molecules and pathways identified at cellular and transcriptional levels are proposed to have implications for developing targeted treatments for autoimmune disease, cancer, and infectious disease, according to the authors. - The study reports no competing interests; full methodological and supplementary details are available in the preprint but are not reproduced in this summary.
## Clinical Analysis & Structured Key Points
Mechanistic Investigation of Reversible Hibernation-Driven Immune Suppression in Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrels | bioRxiv Skip to main content New Results Mechanistic Investigation of Reversible Hibernation-Driven Immune Suppression in Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrels Miaoyun Zhao , Jackson Chen , Rachel Burrett , Weilong Yang , Subhra Mandal , Saroj Chandra Lohani , Chi Zhang , Jayamanna Wickramasinghe , Matthew T. Andrews , View ORCID Profile Qingsheng Li doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.09.14.750722 Miaoyun Zhao 1 The Wistar Institute; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Jackson Chen 1 The Wistar Institute; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Rachel Burrett 2 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Weilong Yang 2 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Subhra Mandal 2 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Saroj Chandra Lohani 1 The Wistar Institute; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Chi Zhang 2 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Jayamanna Wickramasinghe 1 The Wistar Institute; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site Matthew T. Andrews 2 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site For correspondence: matt.andrews{at}nebraska.edu Qingsheng Li 1 The Wistar Institute; Find this author on Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for this author on this site ORCID record for Qingsheng Li Abstract Info/History Metrics Supplementary material Preview PDF Abstract Torpor in mammals imposes extreme energetic constraints, yet how it reshapes the immune system remains poorly understood. Here we combined single-cell RNA sequencing with quantitative image analysis of immune cell populations in splenic tissues to define immune remodeling during torpor in a natural hibernator, 13-lined ground squirrels. The torpid spleen showed a significant contraction of white pulp with a preferential reduction of B cell- and T cell-rich adaptive niches and relative preservation of innate myeloid populations. Across immune cell lineages, a conserved transcriptional program of metabolic downscaling emerged, marked by suppression of glycolysis, cell-cycle progression, RNA processing, and translation, together with reduced glucose transporter expression and induction of cold-shock RNA-binding proteins. Despite this pervasive metabolic quiescence, immune cells maintain lineage identity, with B cells undergoing numerical and transcriptional contraction linked to follicular remodeling and T cells adopting a quiescent, stress-resistant state without apoptotic enrichment. Innate cell populations remained numerically enriched but transcriptionally restrained, consistent with low-energy tissue surveillance rather than inflammatory activation. These findings identified torpor as a coordinated, multi-tiered state of reversible immune suppression, in which hierarchical metabolic and lineage-specific programs conserve energy while preserving essential immune infrastructure for rapid restoration. Our identified key molecules and pathways in immune suppression at the cellular and transcriptional levels have important implications for future development of targeted treatment for autoimmune diseases, cancers, and infectious diseases. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Copyright The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license . Back to top Previous Posted September 21, 2026. Download PDF Supplementary Material Email Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about bioRxiv. NOTE: Your email address is requested solely to identify you as the sender of this article. Your Email * Your Name * Send To * Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas. 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Andrews , Qingsheng Li bioRxiv 2026.09.14.750722; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.09.14.750722 Share This Article: Copy Citation Tools Mechanistic Investigation of Reversible Hibernation-Driven Immune Suppression in Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrels Miaoyun Zhao , Jackson Chen , Rachel Burrett , Weilong Yang , Subhra Mandal , Saroj Chandra Lohani , Chi Zhang , Jayamanna Wickramasinghe , Matthew T. Andrews , Qingsheng Li bioRxiv 2026.09.14.750722; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.09.14.750722 Citation Manager Formats BibTeX Bookends EasyBib EndNote (tagged) EndNote 8 (xml) Medlars Mendeley Papers RefWorks Tagged Ref Manager RIS Zotero Tweet Widget Facebook Like Google Plus One Subject Areas All Articles Animal Behavior and Cognition (8013) Biochemistry (18743) Bioengineering (14890) Bioinformatics (44438) Biophysics (22604) Cancer Biology (19727) Cell Biology (26904) Clinical Trials (138) Developmental Biology (13966) Ecology (21006) Epidemiology (2067) Evolutionary Biology (25457) Genetics (16167) Genomics (23510) Immunology (18712) Microbiology (42520) Molecular Biology (18062) Neuroscience (93467) Paleontology (700) Pathology (2979) Pharmacology and Toxicology (5097) Physiology (8114) Plant Biology (16000) Scientific Communication and Education (2095) Synthetic Biology (4560) Systems Biology (10235) Zoology (2391)
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