Quick Guide to Evolutionary Medicine in Neuroimmunomodulation: Why "Evolved for the Benefit of the Species" Is Not a Valid Argument.

IF 2.2 4区 医学 Q3 ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM Neuroimmunomodulation Pub Date : 2024-01-01 Epub Date: 2024-03-12 DOI:10.1159/000538294
Carsten Schradin, Adrian V Jaeggi, Francois Criscuolo
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Abstract

Background: Evolutionary medicine builds on evolutionary biology and explains why natural selection has left us vulnerable to disease. Unfortunately, several misunderstandings exist in the medical literature about the levels and mechanisms of evolution. Reasons for these problems start from the lack of teaching evolutionary biology in medical schools. A common mistake is to assume that "traits must benefit the species, as otherwise the species would have gone extinct in the past" confusing evolutionary history (phylogeny) with evolutionary function (fitness).

Summary: Here we summarise some basic aspects of evolutionary medicine by pointing out: (1) Evolution has no aim. (2) For adaptive evolution to occur, a trait does not have to be beneficial to its carrier throughout its entire life. (3) Not every single individual carrying an adaptive trait needs to have higher than average fitness. (4) Traits do not evolve for the benefit of the species. Using examples from the field of neuroimmunomodulation like sickness behaviour (nervous system), testosterone (hormones), and cytokines (immunity), we show how misconceptions arise from not differentiating between the explanatory categories of phylogeny (evolutionary history) and evolutionary function (fitness).

Key messages: Evolution has no aim but is an automatism that does not function for the benefit of the species. In evolution, successful individuals are those that maximise the transmission of their genes, and health and survival are just strategies to have the opportunity to do so. Thus, a trait enabling survival of the individual until reproductive age will spread even if at later age the same trait leads to disease and death. Natural and sexual selection do not select for traits that benefit the health or happiness of the individual, but for traits that increase inclusive fitness even if this increases human suffering. In contrast, our humane aim is to increase individual well-being. Evolutionary medicine can help us achieve this aim against evolutionary constraints.

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神经免疫调节进化医学快速指南:为什么 "为物种利益而进化 "不是一个有效的论据?
进化医学以进化生物学为基础,解释了为什么自然选择会让我们易受疾病侵袭。遗憾的是,医学文献对进化的层次和机制存在一些误解。造成这些问题的原因在于医学院缺乏进化生物学教学。一个常见的错误是认为 "性状必须有利于物种,否则物种在过去就会灭绝",这混淆了进化历史(系统发育)和进化功能(适应性)。在此,我们通过指出以下几点来总结进化医学的一些基本方面:1.进化没有目的。2.要实现适应性进化,一种性状并不一定在其整个生命过程中都对其携带者有益。3.并非每一个携带适应性性状的个体都需要具有高于平均水平的适应性。4.性状的进化不是为了物种的利益。通过神经免疫调节领域的例子,如疾病行为(神经系统)、睾酮(激素)和细胞因子(免疫),我们展示了不区分系统发育(进化历史)和进化功能(适应性)这两个解释范畴是如何产生误解的。
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来源期刊
Neuroimmunomodulation
Neuroimmunomodulation 医学-免疫学
CiteScore
3.60
自引率
4.20%
发文量
35
审稿时长
>12 weeks
期刊介绍: The rapidly expanding area of research known as neuroimmunomodulation explores the way in which the nervous system interacts with the immune system via neural, hormonal, and paracrine actions. Encompassing both basic and clinical research, ''Neuroimmunomodulation'' reports on all aspects of these interactions. Basic investigations consider all neural and humoral networks from molecular genetics through cell regulation to integrative systems of the body. The journal also aims to clarify the basic mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of the CNS pathology in AIDS patients and in various neurodegenerative diseases. Although primarily devoted to research articles, timely reviews are published on a regular basis.
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