Complex sex-biased antibody responses: estrogen receptors bind estrogen response elements centered within immunoglobulin heavy chain gene enhancers.

ABSTRACT: Nuclear hormone receptors including the estrogen receptor (ERα) and the retinoic acid receptor regulate a plethora of biological functions including reproduction, circulation and immunity. To understand how estrogen and other nuclear hormones influence antibody production, we characterized total serum antibody isotypes in female and male mice of C57BL/6J, BALB/cJ and C3H/HeJ mouse strains. Antibody levels were higher in females compared to males in all strains and there was a female preference for IgG2b production. Sex-biased patterns were influenced by vitamin levels, and by antigen specificity toward influenza virus or pneumococcus antigens. To help explain sex biases, we examined the direct effects of estrogen on immunoglobulin heavy chain sterile transcript production among purified, l

SUBMITTER: Jones BG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6400052 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature