Pregnancy level of estradiol attenuated virus-specific humoral immune response in H5N1-infected female mice despite inducing anti-inflammatory protection.

ABSTRACT: Estradiol, a major female steroid produced during pregnancy, has been reported to protect ovariectomized animals against H1N1 influenza infections via its anti-inflammatory effects. However, it remains unclear why pregnant women with high gestational estradiol levels are highly susceptible to influenza infections. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of pregnancy level of estradiol on female immunity against H5N1 infection in Balb/c mice. A sex-dependent susceptibility to H5N1 infection (higher morbidity and higher mortality) was observed in both pregnant and non-pregnant female mice as compared to male mice. Subcutaneous implantation of estradiol pellets increased serum estradiol concentrations of non-pregnant female mice to the pregnancy level. These mice were protected from H

SUBMITTER: Finch CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6711175 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature