Sex Hormones and Gender Influence the Expression of Markers of Regulatory T Cells in SLE Patients
Year: 2021
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Regulatory T cells have been implicated in the regulation and maintenance of immune homeostasis. Whether gender and sex hormones differentially influence the expression and function of regulatory T cell phenotype and their influence on FoxP3 expression remains obscure. We provide evidence in this study that the number and percent of human regulatory T cells (Tregs) expressing CD4+and CD8+are significantly reduced in healthy females compared to healthy males. In addition, both CD4+CD25+hiand CD8+CD25+hisubsets in healthy males have a 2-3 fold increase in FoxP3 mRNA expression compared to healthy females. Female SLE patients, compared to healthy women, have elevated plasma levels of estradiol and decreased levels of testosterone. Higher levels of testosterone correlate with higher expression of FoxP3 in CD4+CD25hiCD127lowputative Tregsin women with SLE. Incubation of CD4+regulatory T cells with 17β-estradiol at physiological levels generally decreased FoxP3 expression in females with SLE. These data suggest that females may be more susceptible than males to SLE and other autoimmune diseases in part because they have fewer Tregsand reduced FoxP3 expression within those cells due to normal E2 levels which suppress FoxP3 expression. In addition, low levels of plasma testosterone in women may further reduce the ability of the Tregsto express FoxP3. These data suggest that gender and sex hormones can influence susceptibility to SLE via effects on regulatory T cells and FoxP3 expression.
Source: Frontiers in Immunology
Authors: Ram P. Singh, David S. Bischoff
Language: English
Topic: T-cell and B-cell Immunology
Subfield: Immunology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,950
OpenAlex ID: W3134486648