Sex differences in the response to viral infections: TLR8 and TLR9 ligand stimulation induce higher IL10 production in males.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Susceptibility to viral infections as well as their severity are higher in men than in women. Heightened antiviral responses typical of women are effective for rapid virus clearance, but if excessively high or prolonged, can result in chronic/inflammatory pathologies. We investigated whether this variability could be in part attributable to differences in the response to the Toll-Like Receptors (TLR) more involved in the virus recognition.

Methods

Cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from male and female healthy donors after stimulation with Toll-like receptors (TLR) 3, 7, 8, 9 ligands or with viruses (influenza and Herpes-simplex-1) was evaluated.

Results

Compared to females, PBMCs from males produced not only lower amounts of

SUBMITTER: Torcia MG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3387221 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature