Sex Influences Age-Related Changes in Natural Antibodies and CD5⁺ B-1 Cells.

ABSTRACT: Natural Abs are primarily produced by B-1 cells and are essential for protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae The incidence and mortality rate for pneumococcal infection increases dramatically after age 65, disproportionately affecting males in both human and murine systems. To date, there is a significant gap in our understanding of the relationship among sex, aging, natural IgM efficacy, and the natural IgM repertoire. Our investigation demonstrates that the protective capacity of serum IgM against pneumococcal infection is maintained in IgM obtained from aged female mice but absent in IgM from aged male mice. To understand this difference in protective capacity, we examined serum Ig, discovering that the protective change was not associated with shifts in levels of phosphoryl

SUBMITTER: Webster SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8976758 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature