1
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Mangiola S, Milton M, Ranathunga N, Li-Wai-Suen C, Odainic A, Yang E, Hutchison W, Garnham A, Iskander J, Pal B, Yadav V, Rossello J, Carey VJ, Morgan M, Bedoui S, Kallies A, Papenfuss AT. A multi-organ map of the human immune system across age, sex and ethnicity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.06.08.542671. [PMID: 38746418 PMCID: PMC11092463 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.08.542671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Understanding tissue biology's heterogeneity is crucial for advancing precision medicine. Despite the centrality of the immune system in tissue homeostasis, a detailed and comprehensive map of immune cell distribution and interactions across human tissues and demographics remains elusive. To fill this gap, we harmonised data from 12,981 single-cell RNA sequencing samples and curated 29 million cells from 45 anatomical sites to create a comprehensive compositional and transcriptional healthy map of the healthy immune system. We used this resource and a novel multilevel modelling approach to track immune ageing and test differences across sex and ethnicity. We uncovered conserved and tissue-specific immune-ageing programs, resolved sex-dependent differential ageing and identified ethnic diversity in clinically critical immune checkpoints. This study provides a quantitative baseline of the immune system, facilitating advances in precision medicine. By sharing our immune map, we hope to catalyse further breakthroughs in cancer, infectious disease, immunology and precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Mangiola
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - M Milton
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - N Ranathunga
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Csn Li-Wai-Suen
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - A Odainic
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - E Yang
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - W Hutchison
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - A Garnham
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - J Iskander
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - B Pal
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - V Yadav
- Systems Biology of Aging Laboratory, Columbia University; New York, USA
| | - Jfj Rossello
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
- Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - V J Carey
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, USA
| | - M Morgan
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, NY, USA
| | - S Bedoui
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - A Kallies
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - A T Papenfuss
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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2
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Layug PJ, Vats H, Kannan K, Arsenio J. Sex differences in CD8 + T cell responses during adaptive immunity. WIREs Mech Dis 2024:e1645. [PMID: 38581141 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Biological sex is an important variable that influences the immune system's susceptibility to infectious and non-infectious diseases and their outcomes. Sex dimorphic features in innate and adaptive immune cells and their activities may help to explain sex differences in immune responses. T lymphocytes in the adaptive immune system are essential to providing protection against infectious and chronic inflammatory diseases. In this review, T cell responses are discussed with focus on the current knowledge of biological sex differences in CD8+ T cell mediated adaptive immune responses in infectious and chronic inflammatory diseases. Future directions aimed at investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying sex differences in diverse T cell responses will continue to underscore the significance of understanding sex differences in protective immunity at the cellular level, to induce appropriate T cell-based immune responses in infection, autoimmunity, and cancer. This article is categorized under: Immune System Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology Infectious Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Jerard Layug
- Department of Internal Medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Manitoba Centre for Proteomics and Systems Biology, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Harman Vats
- Manitoba Centre for Proteomics and Systems Biology, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Kamali Kannan
- Manitoba Centre for Proteomics and Systems Biology, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Janilyn Arsenio
- Department of Internal Medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Manitoba Centre for Proteomics and Systems Biology, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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3
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Rosado MRS, Marzan-Rivera N, Watowich MM, Valle ADND, Pantoja P, Pavez-Fox MA, Siracusa ER, Cooper EB, Valle JEND, Phillips D, Ruiz-Lambides A, Martinez MI, Montague MJ, Platt ML, Higham JP, Brent LJN, Sariol CA, Snyder-Mackler N. Immune cell composition varies by age, sex and exposure to social adversity in free-ranging Rhesus Macaques. GeroScience 2024; 46:2107-2122. [PMID: 37853187 PMCID: PMC10828448 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00962-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing age is associated with dysregulated immune function and increased inflammation-patterns that are also observed in individuals exposed to chronic social adversity. Yet we still know little about how social adversity impacts the immune system and how it might promote age-related diseases. Here, we investigated how immune cell diversity varied with age, sex and social adversity (operationalized as low social status) in free-ranging rhesus macaques. We found age-related signatures of immunosenescence, including lower proportions of CD20 + B cells, CD20 + /CD3 + ratio, and CD4 + /CD8 + T cell ratio - all signs of diminished antibody production. Age was associated with higher proportions of CD3 + /CD8 + Cytotoxic T cells, CD16 + /CD3- Natural Killer cells, CD3 + /CD4 + /CD25 + and CD3 + /CD8 + /CD25 + T cells, and CD14 + /CD16 + /HLA-DR + intermediate monocytes, and lower levels of CD14 + /CD16-/HLA-DR + classical monocytes, indicating greater amounts of inflammation and immune dysregulation. We also found a sex-dependent effect of exposure to social adversity (i.e., low social status). High-status males, relative to females, had higher CD20 + /CD3 + ratios and CD16 + /CD3 Natural Killer cell proportions, and lower proportions of CD8 + Cytotoxic T cells. Further, low-status females had higher proportions of cytotoxic T cells than high-status females, while the opposite was observed in males. High-status males had higher CD20 + /CD3 + ratios than low-status males. Together, our study identifies the strong age and sex-dependent effects of social adversity on immune cell proportions in a human-relevant primate model. Thus, these results provide novel insights into the combined effects of demography and social adversity on immunity and their potential contribution to age-related diseases in humans and other animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell R Sanchez Rosado
- Department of Microbiology & Medical Zoology, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences, San Juan, PR, USA.
| | - Nicole Marzan-Rivera
- Department of Microbiology & Medical Zoology, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences, San Juan, PR, USA
| | - Marina M Watowich
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | | | - Petraleigh Pantoja
- Department of Microbiology & Medical Zoology, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences, San Juan, PR, USA
- Unit of Comparative Medicine, Caribbean Primate Research Center and Animal Resources Center, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR, USA
| | - Melissa A Pavez-Fox
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QG, UK
| | - Erin R Siracusa
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QG, UK
| | - Eve B Cooper
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Josue E Negron-Del Valle
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Daniel Phillips
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Angelina Ruiz-Lambides
- Unit of Comparative Medicine, Caribbean Primate Research Center and Animal Resources Center, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR, USA
| | - Melween I Martinez
- Unit of Comparative Medicine, Caribbean Primate Research Center and Animal Resources Center, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR, USA
| | - Michael J Montague
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michael L Platt
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Marketing, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - James P Higham
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lauren J N Brent
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QG, UK
| | - Carlos A Sariol
- Department of Microbiology & Medical Zoology, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences, San Juan, PR, USA
- Unit of Comparative Medicine, Caribbean Primate Research Center and Animal Resources Center, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR, USA
| | - Noah Snyder-Mackler
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
- School for Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
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Blanton LV, San Roman AK, Wood G, Buscetta A, Banks N, Skaletsky H, Godfrey AK, Pham TT, Hughes JF, Brown LG, Kruszka P, Lin AE, Kastner DL, Muenke M, Page DC. Stable and robust Xi and Y transcriptomes drive cell-type-specific autosomal and Xa responses in vivo and in vitro in four human cell types. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.18.585578. [PMID: 38562807 PMCID: PMC10983990 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.18.585578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Recent in vitro studies of human sex chromosome aneuploidy showed that the Xi ("inactive" X) and Y chromosomes broadly modulate autosomal and Xa ("active" X) gene expression in two cell types. We tested these findings in vivo in two additional cell types. Using linear modeling in CD4+ T cells and monocytes from individuals with one to three X chromosomes and zero to two Y chromosomes, we identified 82 sex-chromosomal and 344 autosomal genes whose expression changed significantly with Xi and/or Y dosage in vivo . Changes in sex-chromosomal expression were remarkably constant in vivo and in vitro across all four cell types examined. In contrast, autosomal responses to Xi and/or Y dosage were largely cell-type-specific, with up to 2.6-fold more variation than sex-chromosomal responses. Targets of the X- and Y-encoded transcription factors ZFX and ZFY accounted for a significant fraction of these autosomal responses both in vivo and in vitro . We conclude that the human Xi and Y transcriptomes are surprisingly robust and stable across the four cell types examined, yet they modulate autosomal and Xa genes - and cell function - in a cell-type-specific fashion. These emerging principles offer a foundation for exploring the wide-ranging regulatory roles of the sex chromosomes across the human body.
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5
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Yang S, Feng C, Fei T, Wu D, Feng L, Yuan F, Fu Y, Ma H, Yu B, Liu L, Li Y, Li Y, Huang Y, Su L, Pei X, Yang W, Yang Y, Zeng Y, Ye L, Yang H, Gong Y, Zhang L, Yuan D, Liang S, Jia P. Mortality risk of people living with HIV under hypothetical intervention scenarios of PM2.5 and HIV severity: a prospective cohort study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 916:169938. [PMID: 38199346 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.169938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
This study estimated and compared mortality risks among people living with HIV (PLWH) under the real-world and hypothetical scenarios of PM2.5 concentrations and HIV severity. An open cohort from all PLWH receiving antiretroviral therapy in Sichuan during 2010-2019 was constructed, resulting in 541,515 person-years. Annual mean concentrations of PM2.5 were estimated and linked to PLWH by their residential address. The parametric g-formula were used to assess 3- and 5-year mortality risks under the real-world and hypothetical scenarios of PM2.5 (10-35, 35-50, 50-75 μg/m3) and CD4 concentrations (0-200, 200-500, 500-800, 800-1100 counts/μl). The estimated 3- and 5-year mortality risks among the PLWH were 14.43 % and 19.38 %, respectively, which would decrease substantially when annual PM2.5 concentration were reduced to between 10 and 35 μg/m3 (risk difference [RD] = -3.23 % and - 4.06 %) and would increase when PM2.5 concentration were elevated to between 50 and 75 μg/m3 (RD = 3.59 % and 5.04 %). The mortality risk would increase when CD4 concentration were reduced to <200 counts/μl (RD = 15.90 % and 20.27 %) and would decrease when CD4 concentration were ≥ 200 counts/μl, especially to between 800 and 1100 counts/μl (RD = -9.01 % and - 11.75 %). The elevated concentration of PM2.5 may disproportionately affect individuals with immune deficiency, especially those with more severity. The findings would serve as justifications for future intervention design and policy making to alleviate air pollution and improve environmental justice and health equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shujuan Yang
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; International Institute of Spatial Lifecourse Health (ISLE), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chuanteng Feng
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, Sichuan University-The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Chengdu, China
| | - Teng Fei
- School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Dan Wu
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Liao Feng
- Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Fengshun Yuan
- Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Yao Fu
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hua Ma
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bin Yu
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Liu
- Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Yizhuo Li
- School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yiping Li
- Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuling Huang
- Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Ling Su
- Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaodi Pei
- Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Yang
- Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Yihui Yang
- Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Yali Zeng
- Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Ye
- Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Hong Yang
- Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Yi Gong
- Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Linglin Zhang
- Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Dan Yuan
- Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China.
| | - Shu Liang
- Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China.
| | - Peng Jia
- International Institute of Spatial Lifecourse Health (ISLE), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Hubei Luojia Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China; School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
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6
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Kelkar NS, Goldberg BS, Dufloo J, Bruel T, Schwartz O, Hessell AJ, Ackerman ME. Sex- and species-associated differences in complement-mediated immunity in humans and rhesus macaques. mBio 2024; 15:e0028224. [PMID: 38385704 PMCID: PMC10936177 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00282-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The complement system can be viewed as a "moderator" of innate immunity, "instructor" of humoral immunity, and "regulator" of adaptive immunity. While sex is known to affect humoral and cellular immune systems, its impact on complement in humans and rhesus macaques, a commonly used non-human primate model system, has not been well studied. To address this knowledge gap, we analyzed serum samples from 90 humans and 72 rhesus macaques for the abundance and activity of the complement system components. While sequences of cascade proteins were highly conserved, dramatically different levels were observed between species. Whereas the low levels detected in rhesus samples raised questions about the suitability of the test for use with macaque samples, differences in levels of complement proteins were observed in male and female humans. Levels of total and antibody-dependent deposition of C1q and C3b on a glycosylated antigen differed between humans and rhesus, suggesting differential recognition of glycans and balance between classical and alternative activation pathways. Functional differences in complement-mediated lysis of antibody-sensitized cells were observed in multiple assays and showed that human females frequently exhibited higher lytic activity than human males or rhesus macaques, which typically did not exhibit such sex-associated differences. Other differences between species and sexes were observed in more narrow contexts-for only certain antibodies, antigens, or assays. Collectively, these results expand knowledge of sex-associated differences in the complement system in humans, identifying differences absent from rhesus macaques.IMPORTANCEThe complement system is a critical part of host defense to many bacterial, fungal, and viral infections. In parallel, rich epidemiological, clinical, and biomedical research evidence demonstrates that sex is an important biological variable in immunity, and many sex-specific differences in immune system are intimately tied with disease outcomes. This study focuses on the intersection of these two factors to define the impact of sex on complement pathway components and activities. This work expands our knowledge of sex-associated differences in the complement system in humans and also identifies the differences that appear to be absent in rhesus macaques, a popular non-human primate model. Whereas differences between species suggest potential limitations in the ability of macaque model to recapitulate human biology, knowledge of sex-based differences in humans has the potential to inform clinical research and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha S. Kelkar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | | | - Jérémy Dufloo
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3569, Virus and Immunity Unit, Paris, France
| | - Timothée Bruel
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3569, Virus and Immunity Unit, Paris, France
- Vaccine Research Institute, Créteil, France
| | - Olivier Schwartz
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3569, Virus and Immunity Unit, Paris, France
- Vaccine Research Institute, Créteil, France
| | - Ann J. Hessell
- Division of Pathobiology and Immunology, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
| | - Margaret E. Ackerman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
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7
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Braga Tibaes JR, Barreto Silva MI, Wollin B, Vine D, Tsai S, Richard C. Sex differences in systemic inflammation and immune function in diet-induced obesity rodent models: A systematic review. Obes Rev 2024; 25:e13665. [PMID: 38072656 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Understanding sex differences in immunological responses in the context of obesity is important to improve health outcomes. This systematic review aimed to investigate sex differences in systemic inflammation, immune cell phenotype, and function in diet-induced obesity (DIO) animal models. A systematic search in Medline, Embase, and CINAHL from inception to April 2023 was conducted, using a combination of the following concepts: sex, obesity, cytokines, and immune cell phenotypes/function. Forty-one publications reporting on systemic inflammation (61%), cell phenotype (44%), and/or function (7%) were included. Females had lower systemic inflammation compared with males in response to DIO intervention and a higher proportion of macrophage (M)2-like cells compared with males that had a higher proportion of M1-like in adipose tissue. Although there were no clear sex differences in immune function, high-fat DIO intervention remains an important factor in the development of immune dysfunction in both males and females, including disturbances in cytokine production, proliferation, and migration of immune cells. Yet, the mechanistic links between diet and obesity on such immune dysfunction remain unclear. Future studies should investigate the role of diet and obesity in the functionality of immune cells and employ adequate methods for a high-quality investigation of sex differences in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Ines Barreto Silva
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Applied Nutrition, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bethany Wollin
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Donna Vine
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sue Tsai
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Caroline Richard
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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8
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Karlidag T, Dasci MF, Steinhoff J, Gehrke T, Citak M. What is the diagnostic accuracy of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and monocyte to lymphocyte ratio in detecting acute periprosthetic joint infections? A gender-specific analysis. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2023:10.1007/s00402-023-05162-9. [PMID: 38147079 DOI: 10.1007/s00402-023-05162-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The accurate and timely diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is critical for guiding optimal treatment management and success, highlighting the requirement of readily available inexpensive serum biomarkers to increase the diagnostic accuracy for PJI. Many studies have investigated the diagnostic accuracy of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR). However, there is a lack of existing literature regarding optimal thresholds for acute PJI. The purpose of this study was to reveal the most appropriate cut-off values for MLR and NLR in detecting acute PJI with a gender specific analysis. METHODS Patients were classified as having an acute PJI if they met the International Consensus Meeting (ICM) 2018 modified criteria. Patients who had a negative clinical and diagnostic workup for a PJI and the presence of erythema on the index surgical area were included in the erysipelas group (control group). Data obtained from all patients included age, sex, body mass index (BMI), Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), procedure type (THA or TKA), serum C-reactive protein (CRP), and blood studies at the admission and culture results were retrieved from the electronic medical record. RESULTS ROC curve analysis was used to determine the gender-specific optimal threshold values for CRP, NLR, and MLR. Comparing the sensitivities and specificities of NLR and MLR at the identified best thresholds in males and females, the study found similar sensitivities of NLR in males and females with 0.84 and 0.84, respectively. On the other hand, an MLR of 0.67 or more reported a notably higher specificity in male patients [0.90 (95% CI 0.75-0.96) versus 0.70 (95% CI 0.56-0.80)]. CONCLUSION NLR and MLR represent commonly ordered, low-cost, simple, and readily available complete cell count laboratory values and should be used as adjunct tests with reasonable diagnostic accuracy in detecting acute PJIs. Moreover, with its excellent specificity and PPV, MLR could provide valuable insight in diagnosing acute PJI, particularly in male patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III Retrospective Cohort analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taner Karlidag
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Helios ENDO-Klinik Hamburg, Holstenstr. 2, 22767, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Gaziantep City Hospital, Gaziantep, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Fatih Dasci
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Helios ENDO-Klinik Hamburg, Holstenstr. 2, 22767, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julian Steinhoff
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Helios ENDO-Klinik Hamburg, Holstenstr. 2, 22767, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Gehrke
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Helios ENDO-Klinik Hamburg, Holstenstr. 2, 22767, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Mustafa Citak
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Helios ENDO-Klinik Hamburg, Holstenstr. 2, 22767, Hamburg, Germany.
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9
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Poletto S, Paruzzo L, Nepote A, Caravelli D, Sangiolo D, Carnevale-Schianca F. Predictive Factors in Metastatic Melanoma Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: From Clinical Practice to Future Perspective. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 16:101. [PMID: 38201531 PMCID: PMC10778365 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16010101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The introduction of immunotherapy revolutionized the treatment landscape in metastatic melanoma. Despite the impressive results associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), only a portion of patients obtain a response to this treatment. In this scenario, the research of predictive factors is fundamental to identify patients who may have a response and to exclude patients with a low possibility to respond. These factors can be host-associated, immune system activation-related, and tumor-related. Patient-related factors can vary from data obtained by medical history (performance status, age, sex, body mass index, concomitant medications, and comorbidities) to analysis of the gut microbiome from fecal samples. Tumor-related factors can reflect tumor burden (metastatic sites, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein, and circulating tumor DNA) or can derive from the analysis of tumor samples (driver mutations, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and myeloid cells). Biomarkers evaluating the immune system activation, such as IFN-gamma gene expression profile and analysis of circulating immune cell subsets, have emerged in recent years as significantly correlated with response to ICIs. In this manuscript, we critically reviewed the most updated literature data on the landscape of predictive factors in metastatic melanoma treated with ICIs. We focus on the principal limits and potentiality of different methods, shedding light on the more promising biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Poletto
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, AOU S. Luigi Gonzaga, 10043 Orbassano, Italy;
| | - Luca Paruzzo
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy; (L.P.); (D.S.)
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Alessandro Nepote
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, AOU S. Luigi Gonzaga, 10043 Orbassano, Italy;
| | - Daniela Caravelli
- Medical Oncology Division, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCs, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (D.C.); (F.C.-S.)
| | - Dario Sangiolo
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy; (L.P.); (D.S.)
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10
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Yang B, Rutkowski N, Elisseeff J. The foreign body response: emerging cell types and considerations for targeted therapeutics. Biomater Sci 2023; 11:7730-7747. [PMID: 37904536 DOI: 10.1039/d3bm00629h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
The foreign body response (FBR) remains a clinical challenge in the field of biomaterials due to its ability to elicit a chronic and sustained immune response. Modulating the immune response to materials is a modern paradigm in tissue engineering to enhance repair while limiting fibrous encapsulation and implant isolation. Though the classical mediators of the FBR are well-characterized, recent studies highlight that our understanding of the cell types that shape the FBR may be incomplete. In this review, we discuss the emerging role of T cells, stromal-immune cell interactions, and senescent cells in the biomaterial response, particularly to synthetic materials. We emphasize future studies that will deepen the field's understanding of these cell types in the FBR, with the goal of identifying therapeutic targets that will improve implant integration. Finally, we briefly review several considerations that may influence our understanding of the FBR in humans, including rodent models, aging, gut microbiota, and sex differences. A better understanding of the heterogeneous host cell response during the FBR can enable the design and development of immunomodulatory materials that favor healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda Yang
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Wilmer Eye Institute and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Natalie Rutkowski
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Wilmer Eye Institute and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Jennifer Elisseeff
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Wilmer Eye Institute and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Bloomberg∼Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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11
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K V BM, Alagesan J. A Case Series Tries to Answer Whether Exercise Positively Influences Immunosenescence. Cureus 2023; 15:e51072. [PMID: 38269239 PMCID: PMC10806379 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.51072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The immune system, the defense mechanism of the body, mainly consists of lymphocytes. The three primary subtypes of lymphocytes are natural killer cells (NK cells), bone marrow-derived lymphocytes (B-lymphocytes), and thymus-derived lymphocytes (T-lymphocytes). T-lymphocytes are mostly composed of CD (cluster of differentiation) cells, such as CD4+ and CD8+ subsets of CD cells. Immunosenescence is the term for the steady decline of the immune system with aging. There are alterations in the composition of various types of lymphocytes, especially in CD4 and CD8 T cells. The elderly are more vulnerable to infections due to immunosenescence, which raises morbidity and mortality rates. Physical exercises are believed to have the potential to alter immunosenescence and produce positive changes in immune cell composition. The extent of exercise-induced immune function changes was different in research studies owing to the differences in protocols, methodologies, testing procedures, ages, and gender compositions. The impact of an eight-week balance-based exercise intervention on immune biomarkers is investigated in this case series. In this case series, two elderly women residing in an institutional setting were exposed to an eight-week-long balanced-based supervised exercise intervention. The immunological biomarkers CD45, CD3, CD4, and CD8 were the outcome variables that were assessed. Data on the outcome variables was gathered both before and after the intervention. Using flow cytometry and single-platform technology, immune biomarkers were analyzed. Following the intervention, there was a rise in the CD45, CD3, CD4, and CD8 cell counts relative to the baseline data. The biomarkers showed only slight and statistically non-significant improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binoy M K V
- Physiotherapy, Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, IND
| | - Jagatheesan Alagesan
- Physiotherapy, Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, IND
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12
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Sponaugle A, Weideman AMK, Ranek J, Atassi G, Kuruc J, Adimora AA, Archin NM, Gay C, Kuritzkes DR, Margolis DM, Vincent BG, Stanley N, Hudgens MG, Eron JJ, Goonetilleke N. Dominant CD4 + T cell receptors remain stable throughout antiretroviral therapy-mediated immune restoration in people with HIV. Cell Rep Med 2023; 4:101268. [PMID: 37949070 PMCID: PMC10694675 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
In people with HIV (PWH), the post-antiretroviral therapy (ART) window is critical for immune restoration and HIV reservoir stabilization. We employ deep immune profiling and T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing and examine proliferation to assess how ART impacts T cell homeostasis. In PWH on long-term ART, lymphocyte frequencies and phenotypes are mostly stable. By contrast, broad phenotypic changes in natural killer (NK) cells, γδ T cells, B cells, and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are observed in the post-ART window. Whereas CD8+ T cells mostly restore, memory CD4+ T subsets and cytolytic NK cells show incomplete restoration 1.4 years post ART. Surprisingly, the hierarchies and frequencies of dominant CD4 TCR clonotypes (0.1%-11% of all CD4+ T cells) remain stable post ART, suggesting that clonal homeostasis can be independent of homeostatic processes regulating CD4+ T cell absolute number, phenotypes, and function. The slow restoration of host immunity post ART also has implications for the design of ART interruption studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Sponaugle
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Ann Marie K Weideman
- Department of Biostatistics, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Center for AIDS Research, School of Medicine, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jolene Ranek
- Computational Medicine Program, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Gatphan Atassi
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - JoAnn Kuruc
- Department of Medicine, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Adaora A Adimora
- Center for AIDS Research, School of Medicine, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Medicine, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Nancie M Archin
- Department of Medicine, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Cynthia Gay
- Department of Medicine, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Daniel R Kuritzkes
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David M Margolis
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Medicine, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Benjamin G Vincent
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Medicine, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Natalie Stanley
- Computational Medicine Program, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Computer Science, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Michael G Hudgens
- Department of Biostatistics, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Center for AIDS Research, School of Medicine, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Joseph J Eron
- Department of Medicine, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Nilu Goonetilleke
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Medicine, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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13
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Kelkar NS, Goldberg BS, Dufloo J, Bruel T, Schwartz O, Hessell AJ, Ackerman ME. Sex and species associated differences in Complement-mediated immunity in Humans and Rhesus macaques. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.23.563614. [PMID: 37961263 PMCID: PMC10634758 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.23.563614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The complement system can be viewed as a 'moderator' of innate immunity, 'instructor' of humoral immunity, and 'regulator' of adaptive immunity. While sex and aging are known to affect humoral and cellular immune systems, their impact on the complement pathway in humans and rhesus macaques, a commonly used non-human primate model system, have not been well-studied. To address this knowledge gap, we analyzed serum samples from 90 humans and 75 rhesus macaques for the abundance and activity of the complement system components. While sequences of cascade proteins were highly conserved, dramatically different levels were observed between species. Whereas the low levels detected in rhesus samples raised questions about the suitability of the test, differences in levels of complement proteins were observed in male and female humans. Levels of total and antibody-dependent deposition of C1q and C3b on a glycosylated antigen differed between human and rhesus, suggesting differential recognition of glycans. Functional differences in complement-mediated lysis of antibody-sensitized cells were observed in multiple assays and showed that human females frequently exhibited higher lytic activity than human males or rhesus macaques, which typically did not exhibit such sexual dimorphism. Other differences between species and sexes were observed in more narrow contexts-for only certain antibodies, antigens, or assays. Collectively, these results expand our knowledge of sexual dimorphism in the complement system in humans, identifying differences that appear to be absent from rhesus macaques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha S. Kelkar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Benjamin S. Goldberg
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
- Present Address: Metaphore Biotechnologies Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jérémy Dufloo
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3569, Virus and Immunity Unit, 75015 Paris, France
- Present Address: Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), Universitat da Valencia-CSIC, 46980 Valencia, Spain
| | - Timothée Bruel
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3569, Virus and Immunity Unit, 75015 Paris, France
- Vaccine Research Institute, 9400 Créteil, France
| | - Olivier Schwartz
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR3569, Virus and Immunity Unit, 75015 Paris, France
- Vaccine Research Institute, 9400 Créteil, France
| | - Ann J. Hessell
- Division of Pathobiology and Immunology, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Margaret E. Ackerman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
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14
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Garcia C, Andersen CJ, Blesso CN. The Role of Lipids in the Regulation of Immune Responses. Nutrients 2023; 15:3899. [PMID: 37764683 PMCID: PMC10535783 DOI: 10.3390/nu15183899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipid metabolism plays a major role in the regulation of the immune system. Exogenous (dietary and microbial-derived) and endogenous (non-microbial-derived) lipids play a direct role in regulating immune cell activation, differentiation and expansion, and inflammatory phenotypes. Understanding the complexities of lipid-immune interactions may have important implications for human health, as certain lipids or immune pathways may be beneficial in circumstances of acute infection yet detrimental in chronic inflammatory diseases. Further, there are key differences in the lipid effects between specific immune cell types and location (e.g., gut mucosal vs. systemic immune cells), suggesting that the immunomodulatory properties of lipids may be tissue-compartment-specific, although the direct effect of dietary lipids on the mucosal immune system warrants further investigation. Importantly, there is recent evidence to suggest that lipid-immune interactions are dependent on sex, metabolic status, and the gut microbiome in preclinical models. While the lipid-immune relationship has not been adequately established in/translated to humans, research is warranted to evaluate the differences in lipid-immune interactions across individuals and whether the optimization of lipid-immune interactions requires precision nutrition approaches to mitigate or manage disease. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms by which lipids regulate immune responses and the influence of dietary lipids on these processes, highlighting compelling areas for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Christopher N. Blesso
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA; (C.G.); (C.J.A.)
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15
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May L, Shows K, Nana-Sinkam P, Li H, Landry JW. Sex Differences in Lung Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3111. [PMID: 37370722 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15123111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex disparities in the incidence and mortality of lung cancer have been observed since cancer statistics have been recorded. Social and economic differences contribute to sex disparities in lung cancer incidence and mortality, but evidence suggests that there are also underlying biological differences that contribute to the disparity. This review summarizes biological differences which could contribute to the sex disparity. Sex hormones and other biologically active molecules, tumor cell genetic differences, and differences in the immune system and its response to lung cancer are highlighted. How some of these differences contribute to disparities in the response to therapies, including cytotoxic, targeted, and immuno-therapies, is also discussed. We end the study with a discussion of our perceived future directions to identify the key biological differences which could contribute to sex disparities in lung cancer and how these differences could be therapeutically leveraged to personalize lung cancer treatment to the individual sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren May
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Massey Cancer Center, VCU School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Kathryn Shows
- Department of Biology, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA 23806, USA
| | - Patrick Nana-Sinkam
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine, VCU School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Howard Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine, VCU School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Joseph W Landry
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Massey Cancer Center, VCU School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
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16
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Tariq MB, Lee J, McCullough LD. Sex differences in the inflammatory response to stroke. Semin Immunopathol 2023; 45:295-313. [PMID: 36355204 PMCID: PMC10924671 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-022-00969-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality and disproportionally affects women, in part due to their higher longevity. Older women have poorer outcomes after stroke with high rates of cognitive deficits, depression, and reduced quality of life. Post-stroke inflammatory responses are also sexually dimorphic and drive differences in infarct size and recovery. Factors that influence sex-specific immune responses can be both intrinsic and extrinsic. Differences in gonadal hormone exposure, sex chromosome compliment, and environmental/social factors can drive changes in transcriptional and metabolic profiles. In addition, how these variables interact, changes across the lifespan. After the onset of ischemic injury, necrosis and apoptosis occur, which activate microglia and other glial cells within the central nervous system, promoting the release of cytokines and chemokines and neuroinflammation. Cells involved in innate and adaptive immune responses also have dual functions after stroke as they can enhance inflammation acutely, but also contribute to suppression of the inflammatory cascade and later repair. In this review, we provide an overview of the current literature on sex-specific inflammatory responses to ischemic stroke. Understanding these differences is critical to identifying therapeutic options for both men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Bilal Tariq
- Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St, MSB7044B, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Juneyoung Lee
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St, MSB7044B, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Louise D McCullough
- Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St, MSB7044B, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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17
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Baraibar I, Ros J, Saoudi N, Salvà F, García A, Castells M, Tabernero J, Élez E. Sex and gender perspectives in colorectal cancer. ESMO Open 2023; 8:101204. [PMID: 37018873 PMCID: PMC10163160 DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2023.101204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Historically women were frequently excluded from clinical trials and drug usage to protect unborn babies from potential harm. As a consequence, the impact of sex and gender on both tumour biology and clinical outcomes has been largely underestimated. Although interrelated and often used interchangeably, sex and gender are not equivalent concepts. Sex is a biological attribute that defines species according to their chromosomal makeup and reproductive organ, while gender refers to a chosen sexual identity. Sex dimorphisms are rarely taken into account, in either preclinical or clinical research, with inadequate analysis of differences in outcomes according to sex or gender still widespread, reflecting a gap in our knowledge for a large proportion of the target population. Underestimation of sex-based differences in study design and analyses has invariably led to 'one-drug' treatment regimens for both males and females. For patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), sex also has an impact on the disease incidence, clinicopathological features, therapeutic outcomes, and tolerability to anticancer treatments. Although the global incidence of CRC is higher in male subjects, the proportion of patients presenting right-sided tumours and BRAF mutations is higher among females. Concerning sex-related differences in treatment efficacy and toxicity, drug dosage does not take into account sex-specific differences in pharmacokinetics. Toxicity associated with fluoropyrimidines, targeted therapies, and immunotherapies has been reported to be more extensive for females with CRC than for males, although evidence about differences in efficacy is more controversial. This article aims to provide an overview of the research achieved so far into sex and gender differences in cancer and summarize the growing body of literature illustrating the sex and gender perspective in CRC and their impact in relation to tumour biology and treatment efficacy and toxicity. We propose endorsing research on how biological sex and gender influence CRC as an added value for precision oncology.
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18
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Reddy KD, Oliver BGG. Sexual dimorphism in chronic respiratory diseases. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:47. [PMID: 36882807 PMCID: PMC9993607 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-00998-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in susceptibility, severity, and progression are prevalent for various diseases in multiple organ systems. This phenomenon is particularly apparent in respiratory diseases. Asthma demonstrates an age-dependent pattern of sexual dimorphism. However, marked differences between males and females exist in other pervasive conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. The sex hormones estrogen and testosterone are commonly considered the primary factors causing sexual dimorphism in disease. However, how they contribute to differences in disease onset between males and females remains undefined. The sex chromosomes are an under-investigated fundamental form of sexual dimorphism. Recent studies highlight key X and Y-chromosome-linked genes that regulate vital cell processes and can contribute to disease-relevant mechanisms. This review summarises patterns of sex differences in asthma, COPD and lung cancer, highlighting physiological mechanisms causing the observed dimorphism. We also describe the role of the sex hormones and present candidate genes on the sex chromosomes as potential factors contributing to sexual dimorphism in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karosham Diren Reddy
- Respiratory and Cellular Molecular Biology Group, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Glebe, NSW, 2037, Australia.
- School of Life Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
| | - Brian Gregory George Oliver
- Respiratory and Cellular Molecular Biology Group, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Glebe, NSW, 2037, Australia
- School of Life Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
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19
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Kropp DR, Hodes GE. Sex differences in depression: An immunological perspective. Brain Res Bull 2023; 196:34-45. [PMID: 36863664 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Depression is a heterogenous disorder with symptoms that present differently across individuals. In a subset of people depression is associated with alterations of the immune system that may contribute to disorder onset and symptomology. Women are twice as likely to develop depression and on average have a more sensitive adaptive and innate immune system when compared to men. Sex differences in pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), cell populations, and circulating cytokines play a critical role in inflammation onset. Sex differences in innate and adaptive immunity change the response of and repair to damage caused by dangerous pathogens or molecules in the body. This article reviews the evidence for sex specific immune responses that contribute to the sex differences in symptoms of depression that may account for the higher rate of depression in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawson R Kropp
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Georgia E Hodes
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
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20
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Putter JS, Seghatchian J. T-cell lymphocytopenia: an omnipresent predictor of morbidity and mortality in consequence of SARS-CoV disease and influenza A infections. Cytokine 2023; 165:156163. [PMID: 36989654 PMCID: PMC9933323 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
We proposed T-cell lymphocytopenia as a strategic predictor of serious coronavirus and influenza infections. Our preeminent goal was to determine whether a degree of T-cell lymphopenia would identify a distinct threshold cell count to differentiate between severe and non-severe infections. We codified an Index Severity Score to exploit an association between T-cell cytopenia and the grade of disease activity. Principal result A T-cell count of 560 cells/uL or below signified a trend towards advanced disease. Key findings and conclusions The T-cell threshold >560 cells/uL discriminated 85.7% specificity of the lesser viral infections and <=560 cells/uL identified 100% sensitivity of severe infections or death. The positive predictive value of this threshold test was 92.9%.T-cell apoptosis and sequestration are two of the primary mechanisms of T-cell lymphodepletion. There is potential for the T-cell threshold at <=560 cells/uL to become a standard to differentiate disease severity. Future research should explore correlations between the T-cell threshold, medical outcomes of treatment, Cytokine Release Syndromes, cytokine levels, inflammatory and coagulation markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey S. Putter
- Medical Biomechanics Inc., 100 E. San Marcos Blvd. #400, North San Diego County, CA 92069 United States of America,Corresponding author
| | - Jerard Seghatchian
- International Consultancyin modern precision personalized blood component therapies. London, England UK
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21
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Karal-ogly DD, Shumeev AN, Keburiya VV, Mintel MV, Rybtsov SA. Age-Related Changes in the Clustering of Blood Populations in Cynomolgus Monkeys Depend on Sex and Immune Status. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13020316. [PMID: 36836673 PMCID: PMC9965083 DOI: 10.3390/life13020316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-anthropoid primates cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis), also known as crab-eating macaques, are increasingly used in biomedical and preclinical studies due to their evolutionary proximity to humans, sharing similar diets, infectious and senile diseases. Age-related changes and sexual dimorphism of the immune system of C. monkeys have not been sufficiently characterized in literature, though age and sex differences affect the course of diseases and sensitivity to medications. Aging in C. monkeys is accompanied by an increase in CD3+CD4+CD8+ (DP-T) cells, plasma B-cells, and a decrease in platelets. Erythromyeloid bias has also been noticed in older animals. There was an increase in eosinophils, haematocrit (HCT) and haemoglobin concentration (HGB). Senile decline in the function of the immune system had sex differences. An increase in the number of monocytes, cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL) and a decrease in the T-helper population were more pronounced in older females. A significant reduction in the number of B-cells and activated T-cells was detected in males only. A moderate correlation with the regression model of aging was established for DP-T, HCT and HGB. The reduction in the B cells count in males and the increase in CTL level in females are moderately correlated with age. Other blood cell populations did not show significant correlations in the regression models due to their high sample variability. The novel cell population CD3-CD20loCD16/CD56+, presumably NK-cells subset, was revealed. This cell population demonstrated an increase trend with age in both sexes. Population-statistical age norms for different sexes for young and very old macaques were established. The blood population clusters associated with sex and immune status in older animals were also identified.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexander N. Shumeev
- Centre for Cell Technology and Immunology, Sirius University of Science and Technology, 354340 Sochi, Russia
| | | | - Marina V. Mintel
- The Research Institute of Medical Primatology, 354383 Sochi, Russia
| | - Stanislav A. Rybtsov
- Centre for Cell Technology and Immunology, Sirius University of Science and Technology, 354340 Sochi, Russia
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, UK
- Correspondence:
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22
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Goodreau SM, Stansfield SE, Mittler JE, Murphy JT, Abernethy NF, Gottlieb GS, Reid MC, Burke JC, Pollock ED, Herbeck JT. Why does age at HIV infection correlate with set point viral load? An evolutionary hypothesis. Epidemics 2022; 41:100629. [PMID: 36162386 PMCID: PMC9807138 DOI: 10.1016/j.epidem.2022.100629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Set-point viral load (SPVL) correlates with the age at which people acquire HIV. Although immunosenescence may seem like a parsimonious explanation for this, it does not easily explain the observation that the relationship between age and SPVL attenuates when accounting for source partner SPVL. Here we propose an alternative explanation that encompasses this latter finding: that decreasing risk of acquisition with older age generates a selection bottleneck that selects for more virulent strains with age. METHODS We adapted a previously published model of HIV transmission and evolution (EvoNetHIV), parameterized here for men who have sex with men (MSM). We conducted a series of simulation experiments that vary seven behavioral or clinical parameters that affect exposure risk as people age. We conducted regressions to determine the mean increase in SPVL per 10-year increase in seroconversion age, with and without source SPVL in the model. RESULTS All runs generated significant relationships between seroconversion age and SPVL when not including source SPVL. All saw attenuated relationships, most to near 0, with source SPVL included. Four of our behavioral measures (relational duration, age-related homophily, coital frequency, and mean age at relationship formation) had clear effects on this relationship, all in the hypothesized direction. Combining multiple forms of behavioral heterogeneity yielded an increase of 0.056 log10 copies/mL SPVL per 10-year increase in seroconversion age, nearly as large as that seen in two empirical studies of age-SPVL correlations in MSM. CONCLUSION The higher virulence of HIV among those infected later in life may be partly explained by a combination of selective bottlenecks and behavioral heterogeneity by age. Variation in the strength of this effect across populations may be in part due to different behavioral, epidemiological and clinical conditions, and not require assumptions about differences in patterns of immunosenescence among populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M. Goodreau
- Departments of Anthropology & Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA,Correspondence to: University of Washington, Campus Box 353100, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. (S.M. Goodreau)
| | - Sarah E. Stansfield
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - John E. Mittler
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - James T. Murphy
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Neil F. Abernethy
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Geoffrey S. Gottlieb
- Departments of Medicine & Global Health, Center for Emerging & Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Molly C. Reid
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Juandalyn C. Burke
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Emily D. Pollock
- Department of Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Joshua T. Herbeck
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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23
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Dodd KC, Menon M. Sex bias in lymphocytes: Implications for autoimmune diseases. Front Immunol 2022; 13:945762. [PMID: 36505451 PMCID: PMC9730535 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.945762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases are characterized by a significant sex dimorphism, with women showing increased susceptibility to disease. This is, at least in part, due to sex-dependent differences in the immune system that are influenced by the complex interplay between sex hormones and sex chromosomes, with contribution from sociological factors, diet and gut microbiota. Sex differences are evident in the number and function of lymphocyte populations. Women mount a stronger pro-inflammatory response than males, with increased lymphocyte proliferation, activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production, whereas men display expanded regulatory cell subsets. Ageing alters the immune landscape of men and women in differing ways, resulting in changes in autoimmune disease susceptibility. Here we review the current literature on sex differences in lymphocyte function, the factors that influence this, and the implications for autoimmune disease. We propose that improved understanding of sex bias in lymphocyte function can provide sex-specific tailoring of treatment strategies for better management of autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine C. Dodd
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Division of Immunology, Immunity to Infection and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom,Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford, United Kingdom
| | - Madhvi Menon
- Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Division of Immunology, Immunity to Infection and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom,*Correspondence: Madhvi Menon,
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24
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Chi M, Tian Z, Ma K, Li Y, Wang L, Nasser MI, Liu C. The diseased kidney: aging and senescent immunology. IMMUNITY & AGEING 2022; 19:58. [PMCID: PMC9666969 DOI: 10.1186/s12979-022-00313-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
AbstractImmunosenescence is the deterioration of the innate and adaptive immune systems associated with aging and is primarily characterized by a reduction in T cell production and accumulation of atypical subsets. Age-related immunological dysfunction leads to impaired immune protection and persistent low-grade chronic inflammation, resulting in a decreased vaccination response and increased vulnerability to infection, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune disease in the elderly. As the elderly constitute a growing proportion of the population with renal disease, immunosenescence is a normal aging process that is prevalent among older people. In addition, immunosenescence seems to be more pronounced in patients with kidney diseases than in healthy controls, as shown by severe chronic inflammation, accumulation of immune cells with the senescent phenotype (CD28− T cells, CD14+CD16+ monocytes), and proinflammatory cytokine production. Immunosenescence inhibits immunological clearance and renal tissue regeneration, thereby increasing the risk of permanent renal damage, infection, and cardiovascular events in patients with kidney disease, lowering the prognosis, and even influencing the efficacy of renal replacement treatment. Biological drugs (senomorphics and senolytics) target the aging immune system and exert renoprotective effects. This review aims to emphasize the features of immunosenescence and its influence on kidney diseases and immunotherapy, highlighting the future directions of kidney disease treatment using senescence-focused techniques.
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25
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Abstract
There is a growing awareness of the importance of sex and gender in medicine and research. Women typically have stronger immune responses to self and foreign antigens than men, resulting in sex-based differences in autoimmunity and infectious diseases. In both animals and humans, males are generally more susceptible than females to bacterial infections. At the same time, gender differences in health-seeking behavior, quality of health care, and adherence to treatment recommendations have been reported. This review explores our current understanding of differences between males and females in bacterial diseases. We describe how genetic, immunological, hormonal, and anatomical factors interact to influence sex-based differences in pathophysiology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, disease severity, and prognosis, and how gender roles affect the behavior of patients and providers in the health care system.
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26
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Robinson GA, Peng J, Peckham H, Butler G, Pineda-Torra I, Ciurtin C, Jury EC. Investigating sex differences in T regulatory cells from cisgender and transgender healthy individuals and patients with autoimmune inflammatory disease: a cross-sectional study. THE LANCET. RHEUMATOLOGY 2022; 4:e710-e724. [PMID: 36353692 PMCID: PMC9633330 DOI: 10.1016/s2665-9913(22)00198-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Background Sexual dimorphisms, which vary depending on age group and pubertal status, have been described across both the innate and adaptive immune system. We explored the influence of sex hormones on immune phenotype in the context of adolescent health and autoimmunity. Methods In this cross-sectional study, healthy, post-pubertal cisgender individuals (aged 16-25 years); healthy, pre-pubertal cisgender individuals (aged 6-11 years); transgender individuals (aged 18-19 years) undergoing gender-affirming treatment (testosterone in individuals assigned female sex at birth and oestradiol in individuals assigned male sex at birth); and post-pubertal cisgender individuals (aged 14-25 years) with juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) age-matched to cisgender individuals without juvenile-onset SLE were eligible for inclusion. Frequencies of 28 immune-cell subsets (including different T cell, B cell, and monocyte subsets) from each participant were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by flow cytometry and analysed by balanced random forest machine learning. RNA-sequencing was used to compare sex and gender differences in regulatory T (Treg) cell phenotype between participants with juvenile-onset SLE, age-matched cis-gender participants without the disease, and age matched transgender individuals on gender-affirming sex hormone treatment. Differentially expressed genes were analysed by cluster and pathway analysis. Suppression assays assessed the anti-inflammatory function of Treg cells in vitro. Findings Between Sept 5, 2012, and Nov 6, 2019, peripheral blood was collected from 39 individuals in the post-pubertal group (17 [44%] cisgender men, mean age 18·76 years [SD 2·66]; 22 [56%] cisgender women, mean age 18·59 years [2·81]), 14 children in the cisgender pre-pubertal group (seven [50%] cisgender boys, mean age 8·90 [1·66]; seven [50%] cisgender girls, mean age 8·40 [1·58]), ten people in the transgender group (five [50%] transgender men, mean age 18·20 years [0·47]; five [50%] transgender women, mean age 18·70 years [0·55]), and 35 people in the juvenile-onset SLE group (12 [34%] cisgender men, mean age 18·58 years [2·35]; 23 [66%] cisgender women, mean age 19·48 [3·08]). Statistically significantly elevated frequencies of Treg cells were one of the top immune-cell features differentiating young post-pubertal cisgender men from similarly aged cisgender women (p=0·0097). Treg cells from young cisgender men had a statistically significantly increased suppressive capacity in vitro compared with those from cisgender women and a distinct transcriptomic signature significantly enriched for genes in the PI3K-AKT signalling pathway. Gender-affirming sex hormones in transgender men and transgender women induced multiple statistically significant changes in the Treg-cell transcriptome, many of which enriched functional pathways that overlapped with those altered between cisgender men and cisgender women, highlighting a hormonal influence on Treg-cell function by gender. Finally, sex differences in Treg-cell frequency were absent and suppressive capacity was reversed in patients with juvenile-onset SLE, but sex differences in Treg-cell transcriptional signatures were significantly more pronounced in patients with juvenile-onset SLE compared with individuals without juvenile-onset SLE, suggesting that sex hormone signalling could be dysregulated in autoimmunity. Interpretation Sex-chromosomes and hormones might drive changes in Treg-cell frequency and function. Young post-pubertal men have a more anti-inflammatory Treg-cell profile, which could explain inflammatory disease susceptibilities, and inform sex-tailored therapeutic strategies. Funding Versus Arthritis, UK National Institute for Health Research University College London Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, Lupus UK, and The Rosetrees Trust.
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Affiliation(s)
- George A Robinson
- Centre for Rheumatology Research, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Junjie Peng
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Hannah Peckham
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Gary Butler
- Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Endocrinology, University College London Hospital and Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
- Gender Identity Development Service, Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Ines Pineda-Torra
- Centre for Cardiometabolic and Vascular Science, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Coziana Ciurtin
- Centre for Rheumatology Research, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Elizabeth C Jury
- Centre for Rheumatology Research, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
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27
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Hases L, Birgersson M, Indukuri R, Archer A, Williams C. Colitis Induces Sex-Specific Intestinal Transcriptomic Responses in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810408. [PMID: 36142324 PMCID: PMC9499483 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
There are significant sex differences in colorectal cancer (CRC), including in incidence, onset, and molecular characteristics. Further, while inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a risk factor for CRC in both sexes, men with IBD have a 60% higher risk of developing CRC compared to women. In this study, we investigated sex differences during colitis-associated CRC (CAC) using a chemically induced CAC mouse model. The mice were treated with azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and followed for 9 and 15 weeks. We performed RNA-sequencing of colon samples from males (n = 15) and females (n = 15) to study different stages of inflammation and identify corresponding transcriptomic sex differences in non-tumor colon tissue. We found a significant transcriptome response to AOM/DSS treatment in both sexes, including in pathways related to inflammation and cell proliferation. Notably, we found a stronger response in males and that male-specific differentially expressed genes were involved in NFκB signaling and circadian rhythm. Further, an overrepresented proportion of male-specific gene regulations were predicted to be targets of Stat3, whereas for females, targets of the glucocorticoid receptor (Gr/Nr3c1) were overrepresented. At 15 weeks, the most apparent sex difference involved genes with functions in T cell proliferation, followed by the regulation of demethylases. The majority of sex differences were thus related to inflammation and the immune system. Our novel data, profiling the transcriptomic response to chemically induced colitis and CAC, indicate clear sex differences in CRC initiation and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linnea Hases
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 171 21 Solna, Sweden
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Madeleine Birgersson
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 171 21 Solna, Sweden
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Rajitha Indukuri
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 171 21 Solna, Sweden
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Amena Archer
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 171 21 Solna, Sweden
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Williams
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 171 21 Solna, Sweden
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden
- Correspondence:
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28
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Agarwal D, Paul S, Lele P, Piprode V, Kawade A, Hajela N, Bavdekar A, Parulekar V, Ginde M, Paranjape G, Matsuda K, Hori T, Juvekar S, Lal G. Changes in immunological parameters by ageing in rural healthy Indian adults and their associations with sex and lifestyle. Sci Rep 2022; 12:15012. [PMID: 36056136 PMCID: PMC9438881 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19227-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Several factors including sex and lifestyle have been reported to contribute to the age-related alteration of immune functions. The study was undertaken to determine age-related differences in the proportion of peripheral blood mononuclear lymphocytes in the Indian population using blood samples from 67 healthy adults (33 females and 34 males) aged between 20 and 80 years old. In the linear regression analysis to estimate the relationship with age categories, there was a significant increase in the frequency of natural killer cells with ageing, while their cytolytic activity significantly declined. The frequency of CD4+ T cells increased with age, whereas that of CD8+ T cells decreased, resulting in the age-associated increase of the CD4/CD8 ratio. The subsets of B cells did not show any significant relationship with age. Although there were variations between the male and female subgroups in effect size of ageing, the trends were in the same direction in all the parameters. Reduced fat intake was associated with a lower frequency of CD4+ T cells, and higher serum cotinine level was associated with a higher CD4/CD8 ratio. The results indicate that cellular immunity in the Indian population is affected by ageing, while humoral immunity is less susceptible to ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhiraj Agarwal
- KEM Hospital Research Centre, Vadu Rural Health Program, Pune, Maharashtra, 412216, India
| | - Sourav Paul
- National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, Ganeshkhind, Pune, Maharashtra, 411007, India
| | - Pallavi Lele
- KEM Hospital Research Centre, Vadu Rural Health Program, Pune, Maharashtra, 412216, India
| | - Vikrant Piprode
- National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, Ganeshkhind, Pune, Maharashtra, 411007, India
| | - Anand Kawade
- KEM Hospital Research Centre, Vadu Rural Health Program, Pune, Maharashtra, 412216, India
| | - Neerja Hajela
- Yakult Danone India Pvt. Ltd., 212, Ground Floor, Okhla Industrial Estate Phase-III, New Delhi, Delhi, 110020, India
| | - Ashish Bavdekar
- Paediatrics Department, KEM Hospital Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, 411011, India
| | - Varsha Parulekar
- DiagnoSearch Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., 702, Dosti Pinnacle Plot No. E-7, Road No. 22 Wagle Industrial Estate, Thane, Maharashtra, 400604, India
| | - Manisha Ginde
- DiagnoSearch Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., 702, Dosti Pinnacle Plot No. E-7, Road No. 22 Wagle Industrial Estate, Thane, Maharashtra, 400604, India
| | - Gandhali Paranjape
- DiagnoSearch Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., 702, Dosti Pinnacle Plot No. E-7, Road No. 22 Wagle Industrial Estate, Thane, Maharashtra, 400604, India
| | - Kazunori Matsuda
- Yakult Central Institute, 5-11 Izumi, Kunitachi-Shi, Tokyo, 186-8650, Japan
| | - Tetsuji Hori
- Yakult Central Institute, 5-11 Izumi, Kunitachi-Shi, Tokyo, 186-8650, Japan
| | - Sanjay Juvekar
- KEM Hospital Research Centre, Vadu Rural Health Program, Pune, Maharashtra, 412216, India
| | - Girdhari Lal
- National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, Ganeshkhind, Pune, Maharashtra, 411007, India.
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29
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Peckham H, Webb K, Rosser EC, Butler G, Ciurtin C. Gender-Diverse Inclusion in Immunological Research: Benefits to Science and Health. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:909789. [PMID: 35911383 PMCID: PMC9329564 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.909789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The differences between male and female immune systems are an under-researched field, ripe for discovery. This is evidenced by the stark sex biases seen in autoimmunity and infectious disease. Both the sex hormones (oestrogen and testosterone), as well as the sex chromosomes have been demonstrated to impact immune responses, in multiple ways. Historical shortcomings in reporting basic and clinical scientific findings in a sex-disaggregated manner have led not only to limited discovery of disease aetiology, but to potential inaccuracies in the estimation of the effects of diseases or interventions on females and gender-diverse groups. Here we propose not only that research subjects should include both cis-gender men and cis-gender women, but also transgender and gender-diverse people alongside them. The known interaction between the hormonal milieu and the sex chromosomes is inseparable in cis-gender human research, without the confounders of puberty and age. By inclusion of those pursuing hormonal affirmation of their gender identity- the individual and interactive investigation of hormones and chromosomes is permitted. Not only does this allow for a fine-tuned dissection of these individual effects, but it allows for discovery that is both pertinent and relevant to a far wider portion of the population. There is an unmet need for detailed treatment follow-up of the transgender community- little is known of the potential benefits and risks of hormonal supplementation on the immune system, nor indeed on many other health and disease outcomes. Our research team has pioneered the inclusion of gender-diverse persons in our basic research in adolescent autoimmune rheumatic diseases. We review here the many avenues that remain unexplored, and suggest ways in which other groups and teams can broaden their horizons and invest in a future for medicine that is both fruitful and inclusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Peckham
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis at University College London (UCL), University College London Hospital (UCLH), Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), London, United Kingdom,Division of Medicine, Centre for Rheumatology Research, University College London (UCL), London, United Kingdom,*Correspondence: Hannah Peckham,
| | - Kate Webb
- Department of Paediatric Rheumatology, School of Child and Adolescent Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa,Crick African Network, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth C. Rosser
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis at University College London (UCL), University College London Hospital (UCLH), Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), London, United Kingdom,Division of Medicine, Centre for Rheumatology Research, University College London (UCL), London, United Kingdom
| | - Gary Butler
- Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Endocrinology, University College London Hospital (UCLH) and Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom,Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Coziana Ciurtin
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis at University College London (UCL), University College London Hospital (UCLH), Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), London, United Kingdom,Division of Medicine, Centre for Rheumatology Research, University College London (UCL), London, United Kingdom
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30
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Ekpruke CD, Silveyra P. Sex Differences in Airway Remodeling and Inflammation: Clinical and Biological Factors. FRONTIERS IN ALLERGY 2022; 3:875295. [PMID: 35769576 PMCID: PMC9234861 DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2022.875295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Asthma is characterized by an increase in the contraction and inflammation of airway muscles, resulting in airflow obstruction. The prevalence of asthma is lower in females than in males until the start of puberty, and higher in adult women than men. This sex disparity and switch at the onset of puberty has been an object of debate among many researchers. Hence, in this review, we have summarized these observations to pinpoint areas needing more research work and to provide better sex-specific diagnosis and management of asthma. While some researchers have attributed it to the anatomical and physiological differences in the male and female respiratory systems, the influences of hormonal interplay after puberty have also been stressed. Other hormones such as leptin have been linked to the sex differences in asthma in both obese and non-obese patients. Recently, many scientists have also demonstrated the influence of the sex-specific genomic framework as a key player, and others have linked it to environmental, social lifestyle, and occupational exposures. The majority of studies concluded that adult men are less susceptible to developing asthma than women and that women display more severe forms of the disease. Therefore, the understanding of the roles played by sex- and gender-specific factors, and the biological mechanisms involved will help develop novel and more accurate diagnostic and therapeutic plans for sex-specific asthma management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn Damilola Ekpruke
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Indiana University Bloomington School of Public Health, Bloomington, IN, United States
| | - Patricia Silveyra
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Indiana University Bloomington School of Public Health, Bloomington, IN, United States
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- *Correspondence: Patricia Silveyra
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31
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Engler-Chiurazzi EB, Chastain WH, Citron KK, Lambert LE, Kikkeri DN, Shrestha SS. Estrogen, the Peripheral Immune System and Major Depression – A Reproductive Lifespan Perspective. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:850623. [PMID: 35493954 PMCID: PMC9051447 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.850623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Major depression is a significant medical issue impacting millions of individuals worldwide. Identifying factors contributing to its manifestation has been a subject of intense investigation for decades and several targets have emerged including sex hormones and the immune system. Indeed, an extensive body of literature has demonstrated that sex hormones play a critical role in modulating brain function and impacting mental health, especially among female organisms. Emerging findings also indicate an inflammatory etiology of major depression, revealing new opportunities to supplement, or even supersede, currently available pharmacological interventions in some patient populations. Given the established sex differences in immunity and the profound impact of fluctuations of sex hormone levels on the immune system within the female, interrogating how the endocrine, nervous, and immune systems converge to impact women’s mental health is warranted. Here, we review the impacts of endogenous estrogens as well as exogenously administered estrogen-containing therapies on affect and immunity and discuss these observations in the context of distinct reproductive milestones across the female lifespan. A theoretical framework and important considerations for additional study in regards to mental health and major depression are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth B. Engler-Chiurazzi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
- *Correspondence: Elizabeth B. Engler-Chiurazzi,
| | - Wesley H. Chastain
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Kailen K. Citron
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Lillian E. Lambert
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Divya N. Kikkeri
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Sharhana S. Shrestha
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
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Wang DX, Zhang Q, Wen QT, Ding GX, Wang YG, Du FX, Zhang TY, Zheng XY, Cong HY, Du YL, Sang JZ, Wang MD, Zhang SX. Comparison of CT findings and histopathological characteristics of pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5712. [PMID: 35383254 PMCID: PMC8983692 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09794-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC) is a common fungal infectious disease, and infection can occur in patients with any immune function. To better understand PC, we compared the CT findings and histopathological results in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. The clinical data of 68 patients with PC were collected retrospectively and divided into the immunocompetent group and immunocompromised group. The clinical characteristics, CT manifestations and histopathological characteristics of the two groups of patients were compared. Forty-two patients (61.8%) were immunocompetent, and 26 patients (38.2%) were immunocompromised. Compared with immunocompromised patients, 57.14% (24/42) of immunocompetent patients were asymptomatic (p = 0.002). Compared with immunocompetent patients, cough (14/26, 53.9%) and fever (13/26, 50.0%) were the main symptoms in immunocompromised patients (p = 0.044, p = 0.007). Nodular lesions (97.6%, 41/42) were the most common CT type in immunocompetent patients, and the CT characteristic was a single lesion (25/42, 59.5%); the main histopathological type was nodular fibrogranuloma (30/42, 71.4%), and the main histopathological characteristic was inflammatory granuloma (31/42, 73.81%) formed by macrophage phagocytosis of Cryptococcus. Consolidation (15/26, 57.7%) was more common in the CT type of immunocompromised patients. Multiple lesions (24/26, 92.31%), air bronchial signs (19/26, 73.081%) and cavities (9/26, 34.62%) were the main CT characteristics. The mucinous colloid type (19/26, 73.1%) was its main histopathological type, which was mainly characterized by a small amount of surrounding inflammatory cell infiltration (17/26, 65.4%). There were significant differences in the classification and characteristics of CT and pathology between the two groups (p < 0.05). Through the CT manifestations and histopathological characteristics of PC under different immune function states, it was found that immune function has a significant impact on the CT manifestations and histopathological characteristics of patients with PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Xu Wang
- Departments of CT, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical College, Qiqihar, 161006, Heilongjiang, China.
| | - Qing Zhang
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Jing Shun East Street, Beijing, 100015, China
| | - Qiu-Ting Wen
- Department of Pathology, Qiqihar Medical College, Qiqihar, 161006, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Guo-Xu Ding
- Party Committee Office, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical College, Qiqihar, 161006, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Yu-Guang Wang
- Departments of CT, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical College, Qiqihar, 161006, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Feng-Xia Du
- Department of Microbiology, Qiqihar Medical College, Qiqihar, 161006, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Tian-Yu Zhang
- Departments of CT, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical College, Qiqihar, 161006, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xiao-Yang Zheng
- Departments of CT, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical College, Qiqihar, 161006, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Hou-Yi Cong
- Departments of CT, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical College, Qiqihar, 161006, Heilongjiang, China
| | - You-Li Du
- Departments of CT, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical College, Qiqihar, 161006, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Jun-Zhi Sang
- Departments of CT, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical College, Qiqihar, 161006, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Ming-da Wang
- Departments of CT, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical College, Qiqihar, 161006, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Shan-Xin Zhang
- Departments of CT, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical College, Qiqihar, 161006, Heilongjiang, China
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The spectrum of sex differences in cancer. Trends Cancer 2022; 8:303-315. [PMID: 35190302 PMCID: PMC8930612 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2022.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Sex differences in cellular and systems biology have been evolutionarily selected to optimize reproductive success in all species with little (sperm) and big (ova) gamete producers. They are evident from the time of fertilization and accrue throughout development through genetic, epigenetic, and circulating sex hormone-dependent mechanisms. Among other effects, they significantly impact on chromatin organization, metabolism, cell cycle regulation, immunity, longevity, and cancer risk and survival. Sex differences in cancer should be expected and accounted for in basic, translational, and clinical oncology research.
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Shireman JM, Ammanuel S, Eickhoff JC, Dey M. Sexual dimorphism of the immune system predicts clinical outcomes in glioblastoma immunotherapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurooncol Adv 2022; 4:vdac082. [PMID: 35821678 PMCID: PMC9268746 DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdac082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Biological differences based on sex have been documented throughout the scientific literature. Glioblastoma (GBM), the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults, has a male sex incidence bias, however, no clinical trial data examining differential effects of treatment between sexes currently exists. Method We analyzed genomic data, as well as clinical trials, to delineate the effect of sex on the immune system and GBM outcome following immunotherapy. Results We found that in general females possess enriched immunological signatures on gene set enrichment analysis, which also stratified patient survival when delineated by sex. Female GBM patients treated with immunotherapy had a statistically significant survival advantage at the 1-year compared to males (relative risk [RR] = 1.15; P = .0241). This effect was even more pronounced in vaccine-based immunotherapy (RR = 1.29; P = .0158). Conclusions Our study shows a meaningful difference in the immunobiology between males and females that also influences the overall response to immunotherapy in the setting of GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack M Shireman
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, UW Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Simon Ammanuel
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, UW Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jens C Eickhoff
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Mahua Dey
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, UW Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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Perazzio SF, Palmeira P, Moraes-Vasconcelos D, Rangel-Santos A, de Oliveira JB, Andrade LEC, Carneiro-Sampaio M. A Critical Review on the Standardization and Quality Assessment of Nonfunctional Laboratory Tests Frequently Used to Identify Inborn Errors of Immunity. Front Immunol 2021; 12:721289. [PMID: 34858394 PMCID: PMC8630704 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.721289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Inborn errors of immunity (IEI), which were previously termed primary immunodeficiency diseases, represent a large and growing heterogeneous group of diseases that are mostly monogenic. In addition to increased susceptibility to infections, other clinical phenotypes have recently been associated with IEI, such as autoimmune disorders, severe allergies, autoinflammatory disorders, benign lymphoproliferative diseases, and malignant manifestations. The IUIS 2019 classification comprises 430 distinct defects that, although rare individually, represent a group affecting a significant number of patients, with an overall prevalence of 1:1,200-2,000 in the general population. Early IEI diagnosis is critical for appropriate therapy and genetic counseling, however, this process is deeply dependent on accurate laboratory tests. Despite the striking importance of laboratory data for clinical immunologists, several IEI-relevant immunoassays still lack standardization, including standardized protocols, reference materials, and external quality assessment programs. Moreover, well-established reference values mostly remain to be determined, especially for early ages, when the most severe conditions manifest and diagnosis is critical for patient survival. In this article, we intend to approach the issue of standardization and quality control of the nonfunctional diagnostic tests used for IEI, focusing on those frequently utilized in clinical practice. Herein, we will focus on discussing the issues of nonfunctional immunoassays (flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and turbidimetry/nephelometry, among others), as defined by the pure quantification of proteins or cell subsets without cell activation or cell culture-based methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandro Félix Perazzio
- Division of Rheumatology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Immunology Division, Fleury Medicine and Health Laboratory, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Patricia Palmeira
- Laboratório de Investigação Médica (LIM-36), Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Dewton Moraes-Vasconcelos
- Laboratório de Investigação Médica (LIM-56), Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Andréia Rangel-Santos
- Laboratório de Investigação Médica (LIM-36), Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Luis Eduardo Coelho Andrade
- Division of Rheumatology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Immunology Division, Fleury Medicine and Health Laboratory, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Magda Carneiro-Sampaio
- Laboratório de Investigação Médica (LIM-36), Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Pediatrics, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), Sao Paulo, Brazil
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36
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Lipoldová M, Demant P. Gene-Specific Sex Effects on Susceptibility to Infectious Diseases. Front Immunol 2021; 12:712688. [PMID: 34721380 PMCID: PMC8553003 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.712688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammation is an integral part of defense against most infectious diseases. These pathogen-induced immune responses are in very many instances strongly influenced by host’s sex. As a consequence, sexual dimorphisms were observed in susceptibility to many infectious diseases. They are pathogen dose-dependent, and their outcomes depend on pathogen and even on its species or subspecies. Sex may differentially affect pathology of various organs and its influence is modified by interaction of host’s hormonal status and genotype: sex chromosomes X and Y, as well as autosomal genes. In this Mini Review we summarize the major influences of sex in human infections and subsequently focus on 22 autosomal genes/loci that modify in a sex-dependent way the response to infectious diseases in mouse models. These genes have been observed to influence susceptibility to viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and worms. Some sex-dependent genes/loci affect susceptibility only in females or only in males, affect both sexes, but have stronger effect in one sex; still other genes were shown to affect the disease in both sexes, but with opposite direction of effect in females and males. The understanding of mechanisms of sex-dependent differences in the course of infectious diseases may be relevant for their personalized management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Lipoldová
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Immunology, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Peter Demant
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States
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Schultze-Florey CR, Chukhno E, Goudeva L, Blasczyk R, Ganser A, Prinz I, Förster R, Koenecke C, Odak I. Distribution of major lymphocyte subsets and memory T-cell subpopulations in healthy adults employing GLP-conforming multicolor flow cytometry. Leukemia 2021; 35:3021-3025. [PMID: 34290358 PMCID: PMC8478656 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-021-01348-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Christian R Schultze-Florey
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Lilia Goudeva
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Engineering, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Rainer Blasczyk
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Engineering, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Arnold Ganser
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Immo Prinz
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence RESIST (EXC 2155), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Reinhold Förster
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence RESIST (EXC 2155), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christian Koenecke
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ivan Odak
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
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Abstract
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has increased awareness about sex-specific differences in immunity and outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Strong evidence of a male bias in COVID-19 disease severity is hypothesized to be mediated by sex differential immune responses against SARS-CoV-2. This hypothesis is based on data from other viral infections, including influenza viruses, HIV, hepatitis viruses, and others that have demonstrated sex-specific immunity to viral infections. Although males are more susceptible to most viral infections, females possess immunological features that render them more vulnerable to distinct immune-related disease outcomes. Both sex chromosome complement and related genes as well as sex steroids play important roles in mediating the development of sex differences in immunity to viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sabra L. Klein
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
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39
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Multimodal single-cell omics analysis identifies epithelium-immune cell interactions and immune vulnerability associated with sex differences in COVID-19. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:292. [PMID: 34330889 PMCID: PMC8322111 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-021-00709-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in the susceptibility of SARS-CoV-2 infection and severity have been controversial, and the underlying mechanisms of COVID-19 in a sex-specific manner remain understudied. Here we inspected sex differences in SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalization, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), sera inflammatory biomarker profiling, and single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) profiles across nasal, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from COVID-19 patients with varying degrees of disease severities. Our propensity score-matching observations revealed that male individuals have a 29% elevated likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 positivity, with a hazard ratio (HR) 1.32 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18–1.48) for hospitalization and HR 1.51 (95% CI 1.24–1.84) for admission to ICU. Sera from male patients at hospital admission had elevated neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio and elevated expression of inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein and procalcitonin). We found that SARS-CoV-2 entry factors, including ACE2, TMPRSS2, FURIN, and NRP1, have elevated expression in nasal squamous cells from male individuals with moderate and severe COVID-19. We observed male-biased transcriptional activation in SARS-CoV-2-infected macrophages from BALF and sputum samples, which offers potential molecular mechanism for sex-biased susceptibility to viral infection. Cell–cell interaction network analysis reveals potential epithelium–immune cell interactions and immune vulnerability underlying male-elevated disease severity and mortality in COVID-19. Mechanistically, monocyte-elevated expression of Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) and Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) is associated with severe outcomes in males with COVID-19. In summary, these findings provide basis to decipher immune responses underlying sex differences and designing sex-specific targeted interventions and patient care for COVID-19.
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40
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Mandala WL, Longwe H. Variation of B cell subsets with age in healthy Malawians. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254320. [PMID: 34242324 PMCID: PMC8270464 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Although a number of previous studies have shown that different lymphocyte subsets, including B cells, vary with age, how different B cell subsets vary with age in Malawian population has not been shown before. We recruited Malawian participants of different ages and analyzed their venous blood samples for different B cell subsets. We found that both percentage and absolute counts of B cells varied with age peaking in the 7 to 12 months age group. Proportion of naïve B cells was highest in neonates and decreased with age whereas the percentage of memory B cells was lowest in neonates and increased with age. When we zeroed in on the age band within which the proportion of B cells was highest, both classical and activated memory B cells increased with age and the naïve followed the opposite trend. These results provide additional knowledge in our understanding of the dynamics of B cell subsets in individuals of a specific ethnicity as they age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilson L. Mandala
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), Thyolo, Malawi
- The Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
- * E-mail:
| | - Herbert Longwe
- The Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
- ICAP at Columbia University in South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
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Jenner AL, Aogo RA, Alfonso S, Crowe V, Deng X, Smith AP, Morel PA, Davis CL, Smith AM, Craig M. COVID-19 virtual patient cohort suggests immune mechanisms driving disease outcomes. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009753. [PMID: 34260666 PMCID: PMC8312984 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
To understand the diversity of immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 and distinguish features that predispose individuals to severe COVID-19, we developed a mechanistic, within-host mathematical model and virtual patient cohort. Our results suggest that virtual patients with low production rates of infected cell derived IFN subsequently experienced highly inflammatory disease phenotypes, compared to those with early and robust IFN responses. In these in silico patients, the maximum concentration of IL-6 was also a major predictor of CD8+ T cell depletion. Our analyses predicted that individuals with severe COVID-19 also have accelerated monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation mediated by increased IL-6 and reduced type I IFN signalling. Together, these findings suggest biomarkers driving the development of severe COVID-19 and support early interventions aimed at reducing inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrianne L. Jenner
- Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Rosemary A. Aogo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Sofia Alfonso
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Vivienne Crowe
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Xiaoyan Deng
- Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Amanda P. Smith
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Penelope A. Morel
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Courtney L. Davis
- Natural Science Division, Pepperdine University, Malibu, California, United States of America
| | - Amber M. Smith
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Morgan Craig
- Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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Kushwaha S, Khanna P, Rajagopal V, Kiran T. Biological attributes of age and gender variations in Indian COVID-19 cases: A retrospective data analysis. CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY AND GLOBAL HEALTH 2021; 11:100788. [PMID: 34079918 PMCID: PMC8159626 DOI: 10.1016/j.cegh.2021.100788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The associated risk factors, co-morbid conditions and biological differences varying with gender and age might be the cause of higher COVID-19 infection and deaths among males and older persons. The objective of this study was to predict and specify the biological attributes of variation in age and gender-based on COVID-19 status (deceased/recovered). Methods In this retrospective study, the data was extracted from a recognised web-based portal. A total of 112,860 patients' record was filtered out and an additional 9131 records were separately analysed to examine age and gender relationship with patient's COVID-19 status (recovered/deceased). Chi-square, t-test, binary logistic regression, and longitudinal regression analysis were conducted. Results The male COVID-19 cases (65.39%) were more than females (34.61%) and mean age of infected and recovered patients was 39.47 ± 17.59 years and 36.85 ± 18.51 years respectively. The odds for infection was significantly higher among females for lower age categories, which declines with age. The age-adjusted odds for recovery were significantly higher among females (O.R. = 1.779) and odds for recovery was highest in 5–17 years age category (O.R. = 88.286) independent of gender. Conclusion The chances of being COVID-19 infected was higher for females of lower age categories (<35 years) which decreases with age. The odds for recovery among females was significantly higher than males. The chances of recovery declines with increasing age and the variation could be attributed to the biological differences between age categories and gender.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savitesh Kushwaha
- Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Poonam Khanna
- Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Vineeth Rajagopal
- Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Tanvi Kiran
- Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India
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Association of cell free mitochondrial DNA and caspase-1 expression with disease severity and ARTs efficacy in HIV infection. Mol Biol Rep 2021; 48:3327-3336. [PMID: 33886057 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06313-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
HIV infection is a global health concern. Current HIV-diagnostics provide information about the disease progression and efficacy of anti-retroviral therapies (ARVs), but this information is very limited and sometimes imprecise. Present study assessed the potential role of mononuclear cell (MNC) death, expression of caspases (1&3) and cell free mitochondrial DNA (CF mt-DNA) in HIV infected individuals. Apoptosis, cell-count, expression of caspases and CF mt-DNA were measured through flow cytometry and qPCR, respectively, in HIV infected individuals (n = 120) divided in two groups i.e. ARVs-receiving (treated, n = 87), ART-naïve (untreated, n = 37) and healthy individuals (n = 47). Data showed significant (p < 0.0001) cell death in untreated individuals than treated and healthy individuals. CD4-positive T-cell percentage declined (p < 0.0001) in untreated as compared to treated individuals. Caspase-1, an indicator of pyroptosis, and CF mt-DNA were also elevated in untreated HIV infected individuals. Untreated individuals when administered with ARVs showed improved CD4-positive T-cell percentage, lower caspase-1, CF mt-DNA and cell death. Data elucidated positive co-relation between cell death and CF mt-DNA in treated and untreated HIV infected individuals. While CD4-positive T-cell percentage was negatively correlated with caspase-1 expression and CF mt-DNA. Elevated levels of CF mt-DNA and caspase-1 in HIV infected individuals, positive correlation between cell death and CF mt-DNA, negative correlation of CD4-positive T-cell percentage with CF mt-DNA and caspase-1 expression clearly indicated the potential of CF mt-DNA and caspase-1 as a novel disease progression and ARTs effectiveness biomarkers in HIV.
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Roszkowska AM, Oliverio GW, Aragona E, Inferrera L, Severo AA, Alessandrello F, Spinella R, Postorino EI, Aragona P. Ophthalmologic Manifestations of Primary Sjögren's Syndrome. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12030365. [PMID: 33806489 PMCID: PMC7998625 DOI: 10.3390/genes12030365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a chronic, progressive, inflammatory, autoimmune disease, characterized by the lymphocyte infiltration of exocrine glands, especially the lacrimal and salivary, with their consequent destruction. The onset of primary SS (pSS) may remain misunderstood for several years. It usually presents with different types of severity, e.g., dry eye and dry mouth symptoms, due to early involvement of the lacrimal and salivary glands, which may be associated with parotid enlargement and dry eye; keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) is its most common ocular manifestation. It is still doubtful if the extent ocular surface manifestations are secondary to lacrimal or meibomian gland involvement or to the targeting of corneal and conjunctival autoantigens. SS is the most representative cause of aqueous deficient dry eye, and the primary role of the inflammatory process was evidenced. Recent scientific progress in understanding the numerous factors involved in the pathogenesis of pSS was registered, but the exact mechanisms involved still need to be clarified. The unquestionable role of both the innate and adaptive immune system, participating actively in the induction and evolution of the disease, was recognized. The ocular surface inflammation is a central mechanism in pSS leading to the decrease of lacrimal secretion and keratoconjunctival alterations. However, there are controversies about whether the ocular surface involvement is a direct autoimmune target or secondary to the inflammatory process in the lacrimal gland. In this review, we aimed to present actual knowledge relative to the pathogenesis of the pSS, considering the role of innate immunity, adaptive immunity, and genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Maria Roszkowska
- Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University Hospital of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy; (G.W.O.); (L.I.); (A.A.S.); (F.A.); (R.S.); (E.I.P.); (P.A.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Giovanni William Oliverio
- Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University Hospital of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy; (G.W.O.); (L.I.); (A.A.S.); (F.A.); (R.S.); (E.I.P.); (P.A.)
| | - Emanuela Aragona
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Ophthalmology Clinic, Vita Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Leandro Inferrera
- Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University Hospital of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy; (G.W.O.); (L.I.); (A.A.S.); (F.A.); (R.S.); (E.I.P.); (P.A.)
| | - Alice Antonella Severo
- Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University Hospital of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy; (G.W.O.); (L.I.); (A.A.S.); (F.A.); (R.S.); (E.I.P.); (P.A.)
| | - Federica Alessandrello
- Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University Hospital of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy; (G.W.O.); (L.I.); (A.A.S.); (F.A.); (R.S.); (E.I.P.); (P.A.)
| | - Rosaria Spinella
- Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University Hospital of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy; (G.W.O.); (L.I.); (A.A.S.); (F.A.); (R.S.); (E.I.P.); (P.A.)
| | - Elisa Imelde Postorino
- Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University Hospital of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy; (G.W.O.); (L.I.); (A.A.S.); (F.A.); (R.S.); (E.I.P.); (P.A.)
| | - Pasquale Aragona
- Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University Hospital of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy; (G.W.O.); (L.I.); (A.A.S.); (F.A.); (R.S.); (E.I.P.); (P.A.)
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Abstract
Health and lifespan disparities between sexes are dependent on the immune responses. Men and women have different life styles which determine the environment, nutritional requirements and their interactions with the sex hormones. Sexual dimorphism in innate and adaptive immunity determines responses to infections and other environmental factors regulating health and diseases. Sex hormones regulate immune responses through the expression of receptors which differ for female and male hormones. Estrogen receptors are expressed in brain, lymphoid tissue cells and many immune cells while androgen receptors are limited in expression. Genetic, epigenetic factors and X chromosome linked immune function genes are important in enhanced adaptive immunity in females, leading to production of higher levels of antibodies compared to males. Different nutritional requirements and hormonal control of the mucosal microbiome and its function regulate mucosal immunity. Hormonal changes during various aspects of life and during aging control immune senescence. Evolutionarily, females have an advantage during young age when they are protected from infections by heightened immune reactivity though during aging that can lead to pathologies. Considering the sexual dimorphism in immunity, guidelines need to be established for sex-based treatments for optimal response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veena Taneja
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States.
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46
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Hannikainen PA, Kosa P, Barbour C, Bielekova B. Extensive Healthy Donor Age/Gender Adjustments and Propensity Score Matching Reveal Physiology of Multiple Sclerosis Through Immunophenotyping. Front Neurol 2020; 11:565957. [PMID: 33329307 PMCID: PMC7732581 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.565957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Quantifying cell subpopulations in biological fluids aids in diagnosis and understanding of the mechanisms of injury. Although much has been learned from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow cytometry in neuroimmunological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), previous studies did not contain enough healthy donors (HD) to derive age- and gender-related normative data and sufficient heterogeneity of other inflammatory neurological disease (OIND) controls to identify MS specific changes. The goals of this blinded training and validation study of MS patients and embedded controls, representing 1,240 prospectively acquired paired CSF/blood samples from 588 subjects was (1) to define physiological age-/gender-related changes in CSF cells, (2) to define/validate cellular abnormalities in blood and CSF of untreated MS through disease duration (DD) and determine which are MS-specific, and (3) to compare effect(s) of low-efficacy (i.e., interferon-beta [IFN-beta] and glatiramer acetate [GA]) and high-efficacy drugs (i.e., natalizumab, daclizumab, and ocrelizumab) on MS-related cellular abnormalities using propensity score matching. Physiological gender differences are less pronounced in the CSF compared to blood, and age-related changes suggest decreased immunosurveillance of CNS by activated HLA-DR+T cells associated with natural aging. Results from patient samples support the concept of MS being immunologically single disease evolving in time. Initially, peripherally activated innate and adaptive immune cells migrate into CSF to form MS lesions. With progression, T cells (CD8+ > CD4+), NK cells, and myeloid dendritic cells are depleted from blood as they continue to accumulate, together with B cells, in the CSF and migrate to CNS tissue, forming compartmentalized inflammation. All MS drugs inhibit non-physiological accumulation of immune cells in the CSF. Although low-efficacy drugs tend to normalize it, high-efficacy drugs overshoot some aspects of CSF physiology, suggesting impairment of CNS immunosurveillance. Comparable inhibition of MS-related CSF abnormalities advocates changes within CNS parenchyma responsible for differences in drug efficacy on MS disability progression. Video summarizing all results may become useful educational tool.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Bibiana Bielekova
- Neuroimmunological Diseases Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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47
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Sex differences in health and disease: A review of biological sex differences relevant to cancer with a spotlight on glioma. Cancer Lett 2020; 498:178-187. [PMID: 33130315 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.07.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The influence of biological sex differences on human health and disease, while being increasingly recognized, has long been underappreciated and underexplored. While humans of all sexes are more alike than different, there is evidence for sex differences in the most basic aspects of human biology and these differences have consequences for the etiology and pathophysiology of many diseases. In a disease like cancer, these consequences manifest in the sex biases in incidence and outcome of many cancer types. The ability to deliver precise, targeted therapies to complex cancer cases is limited by our current understanding of the underlying sex differences. Gaining a better understanding of the implications and interplay of sex differences in diseases like cancer will thus be informative for clinical practice and biological research. Here we review the evidence for a broad array of biological sex differences in humans and discuss how these differences may relate to observed sex differences in various diseases, including many cancers and specifically glioblastoma. We focus on areas of human biology that play vital roles in healthy and disease states, including metabolism, development, hormones, and the immune system, and emphasize that the intersection of sex differences in these areas should not go overlooked. We further propose that mathematical approaches can be useful for exploring the extent to which sex differences affect disease outcomes and accounting for those in the development of therapeutic strategies.
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48
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Dzhalilova DS, Kosyreva AM, Tsvetkov IS, Zolotova NA, Mkhitarov VA, Mikhailova LP, Makarova OV. Morphological and Functional Peculiarities of the Immune System of Male and Female Rats with Different Hypoxic Resistance. Bull Exp Biol Med 2020; 169:825-830. [PMID: 33098519 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-020-04989-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The morphological and functional peculiarities of the immune system are studied in adult male and female Wistar rats with high and low hypoxic resistance. Sex-specific differences in the subpopulation composition of the peripheral blood lymphocytes, not depending on the hypoxic resistance of animals, are detected: the males have lower absolute counts of T helpers and higher percentage of regulatory T cells than the females in the diestrus phase. Comparison of the morphofunctional status of the immune system in male and female (diestrus) rats with high resistance to hypoxia has shown a better developed subcapsular zone of the thymus, higher levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF-β, and lower absolute counts of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood in the males. Males with low hypoxic resistance have higher counts of phase II thymic bodies in comparison with low-resistant females. Hence, morphofunctional differences in the immune system of male and female rats with different hypoxic resistance are detected, which can determine the course of inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - A M Kosyreva
- Research Institute of Human Morphology, Moscow, Russia
| | - I S Tsvetkov
- Research Institute of Human Morphology, Moscow, Russia
| | - N A Zolotova
- Research Institute of Human Morphology, Moscow, Russia
| | - V A Mkhitarov
- Research Institute of Human Morphology, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - O V Makarova
- Research Institute of Human Morphology, Moscow, Russia
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Makau MC, Powell J, Prendergast J, Latré de Laté P, Morrison LJ, Fisch A, Gathura P, Kitala P, Connelley T, Toye P. Inverted CD4 +/CD8 + T cell ratio in Boran (Bos indicus) cattle. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2020; 230:110126. [PMID: 33080530 PMCID: PMC7700890 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2020.110126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The CD4+/CD8+ ratio is used as a marker of the immune regulation of T cell balance. When the ratio in peripheral blood is less than 1, this is considered an indication of immune suppression in an individual. Previous work on bovine Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) has consistently reported a ratio ≥1 as seen in other mammalian hosts, i.e. higher circulating CD4+ cell numbers than CD8+ cell numbers. However, a consistent inverted CD4+/CD8+ ratio (<1) was observed in Boran cattle, an African Bos indicus breed. The T cell populations were characterized in Boran cattle (n = 52), revealing higher percentages of circulating CD8+ cells (31.9 % average) than CD4+ cells (19.1 % average), thus resulting in the inversion of the expected T cell homeostasis in these animals. The results show that this inversion is not an effect of age or relatedness of the cattle, rather, it was shared by almost all Boran cattle used in this study. Despite this inversion being a feature shared by both males and females, the female cattle had significantly higher CD4+/CD8+ ratios than the male Boran. This paper describes the characteristics of the T cell fractions in the study animals and compares the findings to those of other Boran cattle in Kenya, and four other cattle breeds representing African indicine, African taurine, Brazilian indicine and European taurine cattle. We demonstrate that the consistent observation of inverted CD4+/CD8+ cell ratio was restricted to the Boran.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurine C Makau
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya.
| | - Jessica Powell
- The Roslin Institute and Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - James Prendergast
- The Roslin Institute and Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Perle Latré de Laté
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
| | - Liam J Morrison
- The Roslin Institute and Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Andressa Fisch
- Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of Sao Paulo, Avenida dos Bandeirantes, 3900, 14040-902 Ribeirao Preto Brazil
| | - Peter Gathura
- The University of Nairobi, Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, P.O Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Phillip Kitala
- The University of Nairobi, Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, P.O Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Timothy Connelley
- The Roslin Institute and Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Philip Toye
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
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50
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Forsyth KS, Anguera MC. Time to get ill: the intersection of viral infections, sex, and the X chromosome. CURRENT OPINION IN PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 19:62-72. [PMID: 33073073 PMCID: PMC7553007 DOI: 10.1016/j.cophys.2020.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Females have more robust immune responses than males, and viral infections are more severe for males. Hormones and genetic sex, namely the X chromosome, influence sex differences with immune responses. Here, we review recent findings underlying sexual dimorphism of disease susceptibility for two prevalent viral infections, influenza and SARS-CoV-2, which exhibit male-biased disease severity. Viral infections are proposed to be an initiating event for autoimmunity, which exhibits a female bias. We also review recent work elucidating the epigenetic and genetic contribution of X-Chromosome Inactivation maintenance, and X-linked gene expression, for the autoimmune disorder Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and highlight the complex considerations required for identifying underlying hormonal and genetic contributions responsible for sex differences in immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine S Forsyth
- Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104, United States
| | - Montserrat C Anguera
- Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA 19104, United States
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