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Fabunmi OA, Dludla PV, Nkambule BB. High-dose oral contraceptives induce hyperinsulinemia without altering immune activation in diet-induced obesity which persists even following a dietary low-fat diet intervention. J Reprod Immunol 2024; 163:104234. [PMID: 38479054 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2024.104234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) are known to cause weight gain and alter metabolic and immunological pathways. However, modifications in arterial or venous thrombotic risk profiles of women of reproductive ages on COC remain unclear. The study aimed at assessing the impact of COC on immune activation in diet-induced obesity. We further established whether the dietary intervention of switching from a high-fat diet (HFD) to a low-fat diet (LFD) attenuates immunological responses. Twenty (n=20) five-week-old female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into two diet groups of HFD (n=15) and LFD (n=5) and were monitored for eight weeks. After eight weeks, animals in the HFD group switched diets to LFD and were randomly assigned to receive high-dose COC (HCOC) or low-dose COC (LCOC) for six weeks. Animals on HFD significantly gained weight and had a higher lee index when compared to the LFD group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the triglyceride-glucose index, insulin, and other metabolic parameters also increased in the HFD group compared to the LFD group (p < 0.001). Consistently, the levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), were elevated in the HFD group when compared to the LFD group (p < 0.05). Upon switching from a high-fat to a low-fat diet, insulin levels persistently increased in animals receiving HCOC treatment compared to the LFD and HFD/LFD groups (p < 0.05). Thus, in a rat model of HFD-feeding, short-term HCOC treatment induces long-term metabolic dysregulation, which persists despite dietary intervention. However, further studies are recommended to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oyesanmi A Fabunmi
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences (SLMMS), College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa; Health-awareness, Exercise and Cardio-immunologic Research Unit (HECIRU), Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti 5363, Nigeria.
| | - Phiwayinkosi V Dludla
- Cochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa 3880, South Africa
| | - Bongani B Nkambule
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences (SLMMS), College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa.
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2
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Reyes-García J, Montaño LM, Carbajal-García A, Wang YX. Sex Hormones and Lung Inflammation. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1304:259-321. [PMID: 34019274 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-68748-9_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Inflammation is a characteristic marker in numerous lung disorders. Several immune cells, such as macrophages, dendritic cells, eosinophils, as well as T and B lymphocytes, synthetize and release cytokines involved in the inflammatory process. Gender differences in the incidence and severity of inflammatory lung ailments including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis (PF), lung cancer (LC), and infectious related illnesses have been reported. Moreover, the effects of sex hormones on both androgens and estrogens, such as testosterone (TES) and 17β-estradiol (E2), driving characteristic inflammatory patterns in those lung inflammatory diseases have been investigated. In general, androgens seem to display anti-inflammatory actions, whereas estrogens produce pro-inflammatory effects. For instance, androgens regulate negatively inflammation in asthma by targeting type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) and T-helper (Th)-2 cells to attenuate interleukin (IL)-17A-mediated responses and leukotriene (LT) biosynthesis pathway. Estrogens may promote neutrophilic inflammation in subjects with asthma and COPD. Moreover, the activation of estrogen receptors might induce tumorigenesis. In this chapter, we summarize the most recent advances in the functional roles and associated signaling pathways of inflammatory cellular responses in asthma, COPD, PF, LC, and newly occurring COVID-19 disease. We also meticulously deliberate the influence of sex steroids on the development and progress of these common and severe lung diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Reyes-García
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX, Mexico City, Mexico.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Luis M Montaño
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Abril Carbajal-García
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Yong-Xiao Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA.
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3
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Werner LR, Gibson KA, Goodman ML, Helm DE, Walter KR, Holloran SM, Trinca GM, Hastings RC, Yang HH, Hu Y, Wei J, Lei G, Yang XY, Madan R, Molinolo AA, Markiewicz MA, Chalise P, Axelrod ML, Balko JM, Hunter KW, Hartman ZC, Lange CA, Hagan CR. Progesterone promotes immunomodulation and tumor development in the murine mammary gland. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2020-001710. [PMID: 33958486 PMCID: PMC8103939 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical studies have linked usage of progestins (synthetic progesterone [P4]) to breast cancer risk. However, little is understood regarding the role of native P4, signaling through the progesterone receptor (PR), in breast tumor formation. Recently, we reported a link between PR and immune signaling pathways, showing that P4/PR can repress type I interferon signaling pathways. Given these findings, we sought to investigate whether P4/PR drive immunomodulation in the mammary gland and promote tumor formation. METHODS To determine the effect of P4 on immune cell populations in the murine mammary gland, mice were treated with P4 or placebo pellets for 21 days. Immune cell populations in the mammary gland, spleen, and inguinal lymph nodes were subsequently analyzed by flow cytometry. To assess the effect of PR overexpression on mammary gland tumor development as well as immune cell populations in the mammary gland, a transgenic mouse model was used in which PR was overexpressed throughout the entire mouse. Immune cell populations were assessed in the mammary glands, spleens, and inguinal lymph nodes of 6-month-old transgenic and control mice by flow cytometry. Transgenic mice were also monitored for mammary gland tumor development over a 2-year time span. Following development of mammary gland tumors, immune cell populations in the tumors and spleens of transgenic and control mice were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS We found that mice treated with P4 exhibited changes in the mammary gland indicative of an inhibited immune response compared with placebo-treated mice. Furthermore, transgenic mice with PR overexpression demonstrated decreased numbers of immune cell populations in their mammary glands, lymph nodes, and spleens. On long-term monitoring, we determined that multiparous PR-overexpressing mice developed significantly more mammary gland tumors than control mice. Additionally, tumors from PR-overexpressing mice contained fewer infiltrating immune cells. Finally, RNA sequencing analysis of tumor samples revealed that immune-related gene signatures were lower in tumors from PR-overexpressing mice as compared with control mice. CONCLUSION Together, these findings offer a novel mechanism of P4-driven mammary gland tumor development and provide rationale in investigating the usage of antiprogestin therapies to promote immune-mediated elimination of mammary gland tumors.
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MESH Headings
- Adaptive Immunity/drug effects
- Animals
- Breast Neoplasms/chemically induced
- Breast Neoplasms/immunology
- Breast Neoplasms/metabolism
- Breast Neoplasms/pathology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/chemically induced
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/immunology
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/metabolism
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/pathology
- Drug Implants
- Female
- Galectin 4/genetics
- Galectin 4/metabolism
- Immunity, Innate/drug effects
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/drug effects
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/immunology
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/metabolism
- Mammary Glands, Animal/drug effects
- Mammary Glands, Animal/immunology
- Mammary Glands, Animal/metabolism
- Mammary Glands, Animal/pathology
- Mice, Transgenic
- Ovariectomy
- Progesterone/administration & dosage
- Receptors, Progesterone/agonists
- Receptors, Progesterone/genetics
- Receptors, Progesterone/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Time Factors
- Tumor Burden/drug effects
- Tumor Escape/drug effects
- Tumor Microenvironment/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauryn R Werner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Katelin A Gibson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Merit L Goodman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Dominika E Helm
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Katherine R Walter
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Sean M Holloran
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Gloria M Trinca
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Richard C Hastings
- Flow Cytometry Core Laboratory, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics, and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Howard H Yang
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ying Hu
- Center for Biomedical Informatics and Information Technology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Junping Wei
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Gangjun Lei
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Xiao-Yi Yang
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rashna Madan
- Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Alfredo A Molinolo
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Mary A Markiewicz
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics, and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Prabhakar Chalise
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Margaret L Axelrod
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Justin M Balko
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Pathology Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Kent W Hunter
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Carol A Lange
- Department of Medicine (Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation), University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Christy R Hagan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
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4
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Ambhore NS, Kalidhindi RSR, Sathish V. Sex-Steroid Signaling in Lung Diseases and Inflammation. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1303:243-273. [PMID: 33788197 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-63046-1_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Sex/gender difference exists in the physiology of multiple organs. Recent epidemiological reports suggest the influence of sex-steroids in modulating a wide variety of disease conditions. Sex-based discrepancies have been reported in pulmonary physiology and various chronic inflammatory responses associated with lung diseases like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, and rare lung diseases. Notably, emerging clinical evidence suggests that several respiratory diseases affect women to a greater degree, with increased severity and prevalence than men. Although sex-specific differences in various lung diseases are evident, such differences are inherent to sex-steroids, which are major biological variables in men and women who play a central role to control these differences. The focus of this chapter is to comprehend the sex-steroid biology in inflammatory lung diseases and to understand the mechanistic role of sex-steroids signaling in regulating these diseases. Exploring the roles of sex-steroid signaling in the regulation of lung diseases and inflammation is crucial for the development of novel and effective therapy. Overall, we will illustrate the importance of differential sex-steroid signaling in lung diseases and their possible clinical implications for the development of complementary and alternative medicine to treat lung diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilesh Sudhakar Ambhore
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Professions, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
| | | | - Venkatachalem Sathish
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Professions, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA.
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5
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Mandarino A, Gregory DJ, McGuire CC, Leblanc BW, Witt H, Rivera LM, Godleski JJ, Fedulov AV. The effect of talc particles on phagocytes in co-culture with ovarian cancer cells. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 180:108676. [PMID: 31785414 PMCID: PMC8722446 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Talc and titanium dioxide are naturally occurring water-insoluble mined products usually available in the form of particulate matter. This study was prompted by epidemiological observations suggesting that perineal use of talc powder is associated with increased risk of ovarian cancer, particularly in a milieu with higher estrogen. We aimed to test the effects of talc vs. control particles on the ability of prototypical macrophage cell lines to curb the growth of ovarian cancer cells in culture in the presence of estrogen. We found that murine ovarian surface epithelial cells (MOSEC), a prototype of certain forms of ovarian cancer, were present in larger numbers after co-culture with macrophages treated to a combination of talc and estradiol than to either agent alone or vehicle. Control particles (titanium dioxide, concentrated urban air particulates or diesel exhaust particles) did not have this effect. Co-exposure of macrophages to talc and estradiol has led to increased production of reactive oxygen species and changes in expression of macrophage genes pertinent in cancer development and immunosurveillance. These findings suggest that in vitro exposure to talc, particularly in a high-estrogen environment, may compromise immunosurveillance functions of macrophages and prompt further studies to elucidate this mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Mandarino
- Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Research, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - David J Gregory
- Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Connor C McGuire
- University of Rochester Medical Center, Department of Environmental Medicine, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Brian W Leblanc
- Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Research, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Hadley Witt
- Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Research, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Loreilys Mejias Rivera
- Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Research, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - John J Godleski
- John J. Godleski, MD, PLLC, Milton, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Department of Pathology (Emeritus), Boston, MA, USA; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health (Retired), Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alexey V Fedulov
- Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Research, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health (Retired), Boston, MA, USA.
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6
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Jarras H, Bourque M, Poirier AA, Morissette M, Coulombe K, Di Paolo T, Soulet D. Neuroprotection and immunomodulation of progesterone in the gut of a mouse model of Parkinson's disease. J Neuroendocrinol 2020; 32:e12782. [PMID: 31430407 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal symptoms appear in Parkinson's disease patients many years before motor symptoms, suggesting the implication of dopaminergic neurones of the gut myenteric plexus. Inflammation is also known to be increased in PD. We previously reported neuroprotection with progesterone in the brain of mice lesioned with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and hypothesised that it also has neuroprotective and immunomodulatory activities in the gut. To test this hypothesis, we investigated progesterone administered to adult male C57BL/6 mice for 10 days and treated with MPTP on day 5. In an additional experiment, progesterone was administered for 5 days following MPTP treatment. Ilea were collected on day 10 of treatment and microdissected to isolate the myenteric plexus. Dopaminergic neurones were reduced by approximately 60% and pro-inflammatory macrophages were increased by approximately 50% in MPTP mice compared to intact controls. These changes were completely prevented by progesterone administered before and after MPTP treatment and were normalised by 8 mg kg-1 progesterone administered after MPTP. In the brain of MPTP mice, brain-derived neurotrophic peptide (BDNF) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were associated with progesterone neuroprotection. In the myenteric plexus, increased BDNF levels compared to controls were measured in MPTP mice treated with 8 mg kg-1 progesterone started post MPTP, whereas GFAP levels remained unchanged. In conclusion, the results obtained in the present study show neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of progesterone in the myenteric plexus of MPTP mice that are similar to our previous findings in the brain. Progesterone is non-feminising and could be used for both men and women in the pre-symptomatic stages of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hend Jarras
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec (Pavillon CHUL), Quebec, Canada
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mélanie Bourque
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec (Pavillon CHUL), Quebec, Canada
| | - Andrée-Anne Poirier
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec (Pavillon CHUL), Quebec, Canada
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marc Morissette
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec (Pavillon CHUL), Quebec, Canada
| | - Katherine Coulombe
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec (Pavillon CHUL), Quebec, Canada
| | - Thérèse Di Paolo
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec (Pavillon CHUL), Quebec, Canada
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Denis Soulet
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec (Pavillon CHUL), Quebec, Canada
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
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7
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Fuentes N, Silveyra P. Endocrine regulation of lung disease and inflammation. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2018; 243:1313-1322. [PMID: 30509139 DOI: 10.1177/1535370218816653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPACT STATEMENT Sex-differences in the incidence and severity of inflammatory lung diseases have been recognized for years. Women of reproductive age are more likely to suffer from chronic lung disease, with higher mortality rates than men. Physiological changes in hormone levels such as those occurring during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause have been associated with lung function changes and asthma symptoms. Despite this, the roles of sex hormones in the mechanisms associated with lung diseases have not been fully elucidated. This review summarizes basic and clinical studies of sex hormones as potential modulators of lung function and inflammation. The information obtained from sex-specific research on lung physiology and pathology will potentially help in the development of sex-specific therapeutics for inflammatory lung disease that may account for the hormonal status of the patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Fuentes
- 1 Department of Pediatrics, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Patricia Silveyra
- 1 Department of Pediatrics, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.,2 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
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8
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Hall OJ, Klein SL. Progesterone-based compounds affect immune responses and susceptibility to infections at diverse mucosal sites. Mucosal Immunol 2017; 10:1097-1107. [PMID: 28401937 DOI: 10.1038/mi.2017.35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Over 100 million women worldwide are currently on progesterone-based contraceptives to improve their health outcomes through reduced maternal mortality and family planning. In addition to their role in reproduction, progesterone-based compounds modulate immune responses throughout the body, particularly at mucosal sites. By binding to receptors located in immune cells, including natural killer cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, and T cells, as well in non-immune cells, such as epithelial and endothelial cells, progesterone-based compounds alter cellular signaling and activity to affect the outcome of infections at diverse mucosal sites, including the genital, gastrointestinal, and respiratory tracts. As the use of progesterone-based compounds, in the form of contraceptives and hormone-based therapies, continue to increase worldwide, greater consideration should be given to how the immunomodulatory effects these compounds alter the outcome of diseases at mucosal sites beyond the reproductive tract, which has profound implications for women's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia J Hall
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland USA
| | - Sabra L Klein
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland USA
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9
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Roved J, Westerdahl H, Hasselquist D. Sex differences in immune responses: Hormonal effects, antagonistic selection, and evolutionary consequences. Horm Behav 2017; 88:95-105. [PMID: 27956226 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2016.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2016] [Revised: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Males and females differ in both parasite load and the strength of immune responses and these effects have been verified in humans and other vertebrates. Sex hormones act as important modulators of immune responses; the male sex hormone testosterone is generally immunosuppressive while the female sex hormone estrogen tends to be immunoenhancing. Different sets of T-helper cells (Th) have important roles in adaptive immunity, e.g. Th1 cells trigger type 1 responses which are primarily cell-mediated, and Th2 cells trigger type 2 responses which are primarily humoral responses. In our review of the literature, we find that estrogen and progesterone enhance type 2 and suppress type 1 responses in females, whereas testosterone suppresses type 2 responses and shows an inconsistent pattern for type 1 responses in males. When we combine these patterns of generally immunosuppressive and immunoenhancing effects of the sex hormones, our results imply that the sex differences in immune responses should be particularly strong in immune functions associated with type 2 responses, and less pronounced with type 1 responses. In general the hormone-mediated sex differences in immune responses may lead to genetic sexual conflicts on immunity. Thus, we propose the novel hypothesis that sexually antagonistic selection may act on immune genes shared by the sexes, and that the strength of this sexually antagonistic selection should be stronger for type 2- as compared with type 1-associated immune genes. Finally, we put the consequences of sex hormone-induced effects on immune responses into behavioral and ecological contexts, considering social mating system, sexual selection, geographical distribution of hosts, and parasite abundance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Roved
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, 223 62 Lund, Sweden.
| | - Helena Westerdahl
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Dennis Hasselquist
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
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10
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Progesterone Alleviates Endometriosis via Inhibition of Uterine Cell Proliferation, Inflammation and Angiogenesis in an Immunocompetent Mouse Model. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0165347. [PMID: 27776183 PMCID: PMC5077092 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis, defined as growth of the endometrial cells outside the uterus, is an inflammatory disorder that is associated with chronic pelvic pain and infertility in women of childbearing age. Although the estrogen-dependence of endometriosis is well known, the role of progesterone in development of this disease remains poorly understood. In this study, we developed a disease model in which endometriosis was induced in the peritoneal cavities of immunocompetent female mice, and maintained with exogenous estrogen. The endometriosis-like lesions that were identified at a variety of ectopic locations exhibited abundant blood supply and extensive adhesions. Histological examination revealed that these lesions had a well-organized endometrial architecture and fibrotic response, resembling those recovered from clinical patients. In addition, an extensive proliferation, inflammatory response, and loss of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression were also observed in these lesions. Interestingly, administration of progesterone before, but not after, lesion induction suppressed lesion expansion and maintained ERα and PR expressions. These progesterone-pretreated lesions exhibited attenuation in KI67, CD31, and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression as well as macrophage infiltration, indicating that progesterone ameliorates endometriosis progression by inhibiting cell proliferation, inflammation and neovascularization. Our studies further showed that suppression of global DNA methylation by application of DNA methyltransferase inhibitor to female mice bearing ectopic lesions restrained lesion expansion and restored ERα and PR expression in eutopic endometrium and ectopic lesions. These results indicate that epigenetic regulation of target gene expression via DNA methylation contributes, at least in part, to progesterone resistance in endometriosis.
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11
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Jiang W, Zhang L, Lang R, Li Z, Gilkeson G. Sex differences in monocyte activation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). PLoS One 2014; 9:e114589. [PMID: 25485543 PMCID: PMC4259347 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2014] [Accepted: 11/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction TLR7/8 and TLR9 signaling pathways have been extensively studied in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as possible mediators of disease. Monocytes are a major source of pro-inflammatory cytokines and are understudied in SLE. In the current project, we investigated sex differences in monocyte activation and its implications in SLE disease pathogenesis. Methods Human blood samples from 27 healthy male controls, 32 healthy female controls, and 25 female patients with SLE matched for age and race were studied. Monocyte activation was tested by flow cytometry and ELISA, including subset proportions, CD14, CD80 and CD86 expression, the percentage of IL-6-producing monocytes, plasma levels of sCD14 and IL-6, and urine levels of creatinine. Results Monocytes were significantly more activated in women compared to men and in patients with SLE compared to controls in vivo. We observed increased proportions of non-classic monocytes, decreased proportions of classic monocytes, elevated levels of plasma sCD14 as well as reduced surface expression of CD14 on monocytes comparing women to men and lupus patients to controls. Plasma levels of IL-6 were positively related to sCD14 and serum creatinine. Conclusion Monocyte activation and TLR4 responsiveness are altered in women compared to men and in patients with SLE compared to controls. These sex differences may allow persistent systemic inflammation and resultant enhanced SLE susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Jiang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Lumin Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, United States of America
| | - Ren Lang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Zihai Li
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, United States of America
| | - Gary Gilkeson
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, United States of America
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12
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Liu X, Liu Y, Cheng M, Zhang X, Xiao H. A metabolomics study of the inhibitory effect of 17-beta-estradiol on osteoclast proliferation and differentiation. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2014; 11:635-46. [PMID: 25474166 DOI: 10.1039/c4mb00528g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Estradiol is a major drug used clinically to alleviate osteoporosis, partly through inhibition of the activity of osteoclasts, which play a crucial role in bone resorption. So far, little is known about the effects of estradiol on osteoclast metabolism. In this study, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS)-based metabolomics strategy was used to investigate the metabolite response to 17β-estradiol in mouse osteoclast RAW264.7, a commonly used cell model for studying osteoporosis. Our results showed that the application of estradiol altered the levels of 27 intracellular metabolites, including lysophosphatidylcholines (LysoPCs), other lipids and amino acid derivants. The changes of all the 27 metabolites were observed in the study of estradiol induced osteoclast proliferation inhibition (1 μM estradiol applied), while the changes of only 18 metabolites were observed in the study of differentiation inhibition (0.1 μM estradiol applied). Further pathway impact analysis determined glycerophospholipid metabolism as the main potential target pathway of estradiol, which was further confirmed by LCAT (phosphatidylcholine-sterol acyltransferase) activity changes and lipid peroxidative product (MDA, methane dicarboxylic aldehyde) changes caused by estradiol. Additionally, we found that estradiol significantly decreased intracellular oxidative stress during cell proliferation but not during cell differentiation. Our study suggested that estradiol generated a highly condition-dependent influence on osteoclast metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, Dalian 116023, China.
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13
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Ngo ST, Steyn FJ, McCombe PA. Gender differences in autoimmune disease. Front Neuroendocrinol 2014; 35:347-69. [PMID: 24793874 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2014.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 590] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2014] [Revised: 04/20/2014] [Accepted: 04/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases are a range of diseases in which the immune response to self-antigens results in damage or dysfunction of tissues. Autoimmune diseases can be systemic or can affect specific organs or body systems. For most autoimmune diseases there is a clear sex difference in prevalence, whereby females are generally more frequently affected than males. In this review, we consider gender differences in systemic and organ-specific autoimmune diseases, and we summarize human data that outlines the prevalence of common autoimmune diseases specific to adult males and females in countries commonly surveyed. We discuss possible mechanisms for sex specific differences including gender differences in immune response and organ vulnerability, reproductive capacity including pregnancy, sex hormones, genetic predisposition, parental inheritance, and epigenetics. Evidence demonstrates that gender has a significant influence on the development of autoimmune disease. Thus, considerations of gender should be at the forefront of all studies that attempt to define mechanisms that underpin autoimmune disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- S T Ngo
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia; University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - F J Steyn
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - P A McCombe
- University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia; Department of Neurology, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia.
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14
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Barteneva NS, Fasler-Kan E, Bernimoulin M, Stern JNH, Ponomarev ED, Duckett L, Vorobjev IA. Circulating microparticles: square the circle. BMC Cell Biol 2013; 14:23. [PMID: 23607880 PMCID: PMC3651414 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2121-14-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2012] [Accepted: 03/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The present review summarizes current knowledge about microparticles (MPs) and provides a systematic overview of last 20 years of research on circulating MPs, with particular focus on their clinical relevance. Results MPs are a heterogeneous population of cell-derived vesicles, with sizes ranging between 50 and 1000 nm. MPs are capable of transferring peptides, proteins, lipid components, microRNA, mRNA, and DNA from one cell to another without direct cell-to-cell contact. Growing evidence suggests that MPs present in peripheral blood and body fluids contribute to the development and progression of cancer, and are of pathophysiological relevance for autoimmune, inflammatory, infectious, cardiovascular, hematological, and other diseases. MPs have large diagnostic potential as biomarkers; however, due to current technological limitations in purification of MPs and an absence of standardized methods of MP detection, challenges remain in validating the potential of MPs as a non-invasive and early diagnostic platform. Conclusions Improvements in the effective deciphering of MP molecular signatures will be critical not only for diagnostics, but also for the evaluation of treatment regimens and predicting disease outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha S Barteneva
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, D-249, 200 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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15
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Abstract
Membrane microparticles are submicron fragments of membrane shed into extracellular space from cells under conditions of stress/injury. They may be distinguished from other classes of extracellular vesicles (i.e. exosomes) on the basis of size, content and mechanism of formation. Microparticles are found in plasma and other biological fluids from healthy individuals and their levels are altered in various diseases, including diabetes, chronic kidney disease, pre-eclampsia and hypertension among others. Accordingly, they have been considered biomarkers of vascular injury and pro-thrombotic or pro-inflammatory conditions. In addition to this, emerging evidence suggests that microparticles are not simply a consequence of disease, but that they themselves may contribute to pathological processes. Thus microparticles appear to serve as both markers and mediators of pathology. The present review examines the evidence for microparticles as both biomarkers of, and contributors to, the progression of disease. Approaches for the detection of microparticles are summarized and novel concepts relating to the formation of microparticles and their biological effects are examined.
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16
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Tsai WH, Lai SL, Li IT, Chien HY, Shih CH, Kou YR, Hsu HC. Annexin A1 mediates the anti-adhesive effects of dexamethasone during the cell-cell interaction between the all-trans retinoic acid-treated acute promyelocytic leukemic cells and endothelial cells. J Cell Biochem 2013; 114:551-7. [DOI: 10.1002/jcb.24394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2012] [Accepted: 09/06/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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17
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Abstract
Sexual dimorphism in human immune systems is most apparent in the female predominance of certain autoimmune diseases (ADs) like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Epidemiologic, observational and experimental evidence strongly suggest sex steroids are important modulators of genetic risk in human AD. In this regard, the roles of progesterone (Pg), an immunomodulatory female sex steroid, are poorly understood. Several lines of investigation indicate Pg and synthetic progestins impact risk of AD and immune-mediated injury in different ways depending on their concentrations and their engagement of various Pg receptors expressed in immune organs, immune cells or tissues targeted by immune attack. At low physiologic levels, Pg may enhance interferon-alpha (IFN-α) pathways important in SLE pathogenesis. Commonly used synthetic progestins may have the opposite effect. At pregnancy levels, Pg may suppress disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple sclerosis (MS) via inhibition of T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th17 pathways and induction of anti-inflammatory molecules. Importantly, Pg's immunomodulatory effects differ from those of estrogens and androgens. An additional layer of complexity arises from apparent interdependence of sex hormone signaling pathways. Identifying mechanisms by which Pg and other sex steroids modulate risk of AD and immune-mediated injury will require clarification of their cellular and molecular targets in vivo. These future studies should be informed by recent genetic discoveries in human AD, particularly those revealing their sex-specific genetic associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant C Hughes
- University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St., Box 356428, Seattle, WA 98195–6428, USA.
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