Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Sex differences in innate anti-viral immune responses to respiratory viruses and in their clinical outcomes in a birth cohort study.
Regis, Eteri; Fontanella, Sara; Lin, Lijing; Howard, Rebecca; Haider, Sadia; Curtin, John A; Edwards, Michael R; Rattray, Magnus; Simpson, Angela; Custovic, Adnan; Johnston, Sebastian L.
Affiliation
  • Regis E; Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK.
  • Fontanella S; Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK.
  • Lin L; Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
  • Howard R; Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
  • Haider S; Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK.
  • Curtin JA; Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester and University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
  • Edwards MR; Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK.
  • Rattray M; Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
  • Simpson A; Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester and University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
  • Custovic A; Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK.
  • Johnston SL; Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK. s.johnston@imperial.ac.uk.
Sci Rep ; 11(1): 23741, 2021 12 09.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34887467
The mechanisms explaining excess morbidity and mortality in respiratory infections among males are poorly understood. Innate immune responses are critical in protection against respiratory virus infections. We hypothesised that innate immune responses to respiratory viruses may be deficient in males. We stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 345 participants at age 16 years in a population-based birth cohort with three live respiratory viruses (rhinoviruses A16 and A1, and respiratory syncytial virus) and two viral mimics (R848 and CpG-A, to mimic responses to SARS-CoV-2) and investigated sex differences in interferon (IFN) responses. IFN-α responses to all viruses and stimuli were 1.34-2.06-fold lower in males than females (P = 0.018 - < 0.001). IFN-ß, IFN-γ and IFN-induced chemokines were also deficient in males across all stimuli/viruses. Healthcare records revealed 12.1% of males and 6.6% of females were hospitalized with respiratory infections in infancy (P = 0.017). In conclusion, impaired innate anti-viral immunity in males likely results in high male morbidity and mortality from respiratory virus infections.
Subject(s)

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Rhinovirus / Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Picornaviridae Infections / Imidazoles / Immunity, Innate Type of study: Etiology_studies / Incidence_studies / Observational_studies / Risk_factors_studies Limits: Adolescent / Female / Humans / Male Language: En Journal: Sci Rep Year: 2021 Document type: Article Country of publication:

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Rhinovirus / Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Picornaviridae Infections / Imidazoles / Immunity, Innate Type of study: Etiology_studies / Incidence_studies / Observational_studies / Risk_factors_studies Limits: Adolescent / Female / Humans / Male Language: En Journal: Sci Rep Year: 2021 Document type: Article Country of publication: