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Reddy KD, Rutting S, Tonga K, Xenaki D, Simpson JL, McDonald VM, Plit M, Malouf M, Zakarya R, Oliver BG. Sexually dimorphic production of interleukin-6 in respiratory disease. Physiol Rep 2021; 8:e14459. [PMID: 32472750 PMCID: PMC7260763 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.14459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Diverging susceptibility and severity in respiratory diseases is prevalent between males and females. Sex hormones have inconclusively been attributed as the cause of these differences, however, strong evidence exists promoting genetic factors leading to sexual dimorphism. As such, we investigate differential proinflammatory cytokine (interleukin (IL)‐6 and CXCL8) release from TNF‐α stimulated primary human lung fibroblasts in vitro. We present, for the first time, in vitro evidence supporting clinical findings of differential production of IL‐6 between males and females across various respiratory diseases. IL‐6 was found to be produced approximately two times more from fibroblasts derived from females compared to males. As such we demonstrate sexual dimorphism in cytokine production of IL‐6 outside the context of biological factors in the human body. As such, our data highlight that differences exist between males and females in the absence of sex hormones. We, for the first time, demonstrate inherent in vitro differences exist between males and females in pulmonary fibroblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karosham D Reddy
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Respiratory Cellular and Molecular Biology, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sandra Rutting
- Respiratory Cellular and Molecular Biology, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Katrina Tonga
- Respiratory Cellular and Molecular Biology, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,St Vincent's Hospital Sydney and St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
| | - Dikaia Xenaki
- Respiratory Cellular and Molecular Biology, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jodie L Simpson
- Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Vanessa M McDonald
- Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Marshall Plit
- St Vincent's Hospital Sydney and St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
| | - Monique Malouf
- St Vincent's Hospital Sydney and St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
| | - Razia Zakarya
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Respiratory Cellular and Molecular Biology, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Brian G Oliver
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Respiratory Cellular and Molecular Biology, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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The relationship between the plasma proinflammatory cytokine levels of depressed/anxious children and their parents. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11798. [PMID: 34083584 PMCID: PMC8175361 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90971-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies suggest immune function dysregulation in depression and anxiety disorders. Elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines may be a marker for immune system dysregulation. No study assessed the correlation between the levels of cytokines in children and adolescents with depression/anxiety disorders and their parents. In this study, 92 children and adolescents (mean age 13.90 ± 2.41 years) with depression and/or anxiety disorders were treated with fluoxetine. Blood samples were collected before initiation of treatment. One hundred and sixty-four of their parents (mean age 50.6 ± 6.2 years) and 25 parents of healthy children (mean age 38.5 ± 6.2 years) also gave blood samples. Plasma levels of three pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and compared between depressed/anxious children and their parents. We also compared cytokine levels between parents of children with depression/anxiety and control parents. Mothers of depressed children had higher TNF-α levels than mothers of controls. No significant difference was detected in the fathers. A positive correlation was found between the IL-1β levels of the depressed/anxious boys and their mothers. No such correlation was observed in the fathers. Our conclusions are that higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines may indicate immune system activation in mothers in response to the distress associated with having depressed/anxious offspring. The correlation between IL-1β levels in the mothers and their depressed/anxious children may indicate familial vulnerability to depression and anxiety. Our observation highlights the need for a better understanding of sexual dimorphism in inflammatory responses to stress.
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Reddy KD, Oliver BGG. Sex-specific effects of in utero and adult tobacco smoke exposure. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2020; 320:L63-L72. [PMID: 33084360 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00273.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Tobacco smoke has harmful effects on a multiorgan level. Exposure to smoke, whether in utero or environmental, significantly increases susceptibility. This susceptibility has been identified to be divergent between males and females. However, there remains a distinct lack of thorough research into the relationship between sex and exposure to tobacco. Females tend to generate a more significant response than males during adulthood exposure. The intrauterine environment is meticulously controlled, and exposure to tobacco presents a significant factor that contributes to poor health outcomes and susceptibility later in life. Analysis of these effects in relation to the sex of the offspring is yet to be holistically reviewed and summarized. In this review, we will delineate the time-dependent relationship between tobacco smoke exposure and sex-specific disease susceptibility. We further outline possible biological mechanisms that may contribute to the identified pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karosham D Reddy
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Respiratory Cellular and Molecular Biology, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Brian G G Oliver
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Respiratory Cellular and Molecular Biology, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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