The impact of sex hormones on BCG-induced trained immunity

Journal of Leukocyte Biology: An Official Publication of the Reticuloendothelial Society

article

L.C.J. de Bree¹  Robine Janssen¹  Peter Aaby³  Reinout van Crevel¹  Leo A.B. Joosten¹  Christine Stabell Benn³  Mihai G. Netea¹ 

[1] Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center;Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases (RCI), Radboud University Medical Center;Research Center for Vitamins and Vaccines, Bandim Health Project, Statens Serum Institut;University of Southern Denmark/Odense University Hospital;Department for Genomics & Immunoregulation, Life and Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES), University of Bonn

关键词: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin;    dihydrotestosterone;    estradiol;    heterologous protection;    innate immune memory;    sex-differential effects;   

DOI  :  10.1002/JLB.5MA0118-027R

学科分类：生理学

来源: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

【 摘 要 】

The anti-tuberculosis vaccine Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a well-known immune modulator that induces nonspecific protective effects against heterologous infections through induction of innate immune memory, also termed “trained immunity.” In randomized trials in low weight newborns, BCG vaccination reduced neonatal mortality due to decreased incidence of sepsis and respiratory infections. In many studies, sex-differential nonspecific effects of vaccines have been observed, but the mechanisms behind these differential effects are unknown. We investigated whether the important sex hormones estrogen and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) influence BCGinduced trained immunity in human primary monocytes. Although addition of estradiol and DHT to BCG inhibited the production of proinflammatory cytokines after direct stimulation of human monocytes, they did not influence the induction of trained immunity by BCG. In addition, estradiol or DHT did not induce training or tolerance in monocytes themselves. We conclude that these important sex hormones are unlikely to explain the sex-differential effects after BCG vaccination. Future studies should focus on the investigation of alternative mechanisms as an explanation for sex-differential nonspecific effects of BCG vaccination.

【 授权许可】

CC BY