The Ability of Neonatal Mice to Develop Immunity to <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> Shows Sex Differences, with Females Displaying Evidence of an Enhanced Immune Response.

ABSTRACT: Using four core genotypes (FCG) mice, we have previously shown a larger number of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in the spleens of female mice, a sex difference that develops by postnatal day 7 and is retained through adulthood. This difference in splenic T cell number is a consequence of reduced thymic egress and reduced splenic seeding in male mice, caused in part by the male-specific perinatal surge of testosterone, and in part by Sry, which is overexpressed in this model. Here, we used the background strain for FCG mice (C57BL/6J) to ask whether sex influenced actual immunity in the postnatal period. Pups were immunized on postpartum days 1 or 3 with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), challenged on day 7 with Mtb purified protein derivative (PPD), and sacrific

SUBMITTER: Ghosh MK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12356363 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature