The intensity of human body odors and the MHC: Should we expect a link?

Original article:

The intensity of human body odors and the MHC: Should we expect a link?

Evolutionary Psychology 4: 85-94 Claus Wedekind, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Program for Evolutionary Dynamics, and Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Zoological Institute, University of Bern, 3032 Hinterkappelen, Switzerland, claus.wedekind@unil.chThomas Seebeck, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandFlorence Bettens, Institute of Immunology, University Hospital Bern, 3010 Bern, SwitzerlandAlexander J. Paepke, Zoological Institute, University of Bern, 3032 Hinterkappelen, Switzerland

Abstract

It is now well established that genes within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) somehow affect the production of body odors in several vertebrates, including humans. Here we discuss whether variation in the intensity of body odors may be influenced by the MHC. In order to examine this question, we have to control for MHC-linked odor perception on the smeller’s side. Such a control is necessary because the perception of pleasantness and intensity seem to be confounded, and the causalities are still unsolved. It has previously been found that intense odors are scored as less pleasant if the signaler and the receiver are of MHC-dissimilar type, but not if they are of MHC similar type. We argue, and first data suggest, that an effect of the degree of MHC-heterozygosity and odor intensity is likely (MHC-homozygotes may normally smell more intense), while there is currently no strong argument for other possible links between the MHC and body odor intensity.

Keywords

Odor intensity, MHC homo- and heterozygosity, 'good genes' hypothesis, 'compatible genes' hypothesis, T-shirt experiment.

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