Frontiers in Immunology (May 2024)
Tissue-specific sex differences in pediatric and adult immune cell composition and function
- Mahina Tabassum Mitul,
- Mahina Tabassum Mitul,
- Mahina Tabassum Mitul,
- Mahina Tabassum Mitul,
- Jenna M. Kastenschmidt,
- Jenna M. Kastenschmidt,
- Jenna M. Kastenschmidt,
- Jenna M. Kastenschmidt,
- Suhas Sureshchandra,
- Suhas Sureshchandra,
- Suhas Sureshchandra,
- Suhas Sureshchandra,
- Zachary W. Wagoner,
- Zachary W. Wagoner,
- Zachary W. Wagoner,
- Zachary W. Wagoner,
- Andrew M. Sorn,
- Andrew M. Sorn,
- Andrew M. Sorn,
- Andrew M. Sorn,
- David R. Mcllwain,
- Jenny E. Hernandez-Davies,
- Jenny E. Hernandez-Davies,
- Jenny E. Hernandez-Davies,
- Jenny E. Hernandez-Davies,
- Aarti Jain,
- Aarti Jain,
- Aarti Jain,
- Rafael de Assis,
- Rafael de Assis,
- Rafael de Assis,
- Douglas Trask,
- D. Huw Davies,
- D. Huw Davies,
- D. Huw Davies,
- D. Huw Davies,
- Lisa E. Wagar,
- Lisa E. Wagar,
- Lisa E. Wagar,
- Lisa E. Wagar
Affiliations
- Mahina Tabassum Mitul
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Mahina Tabassum Mitul
- Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Mahina Tabassum Mitul
- Center for Virus Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Mahina Tabassum Mitul
- Vaccine Research and Development Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Jenna M. Kastenschmidt
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Jenna M. Kastenschmidt
- Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Jenna M. Kastenschmidt
- Center for Virus Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Jenna M. Kastenschmidt
- Vaccine Research and Development Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Suhas Sureshchandra
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Suhas Sureshchandra
- Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Suhas Sureshchandra
- Center for Virus Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Suhas Sureshchandra
- Vaccine Research and Development Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Zachary W. Wagoner
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Zachary W. Wagoner
- Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Zachary W. Wagoner
- Center for Virus Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Zachary W. Wagoner
- Vaccine Research and Development Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Andrew M. Sorn
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Andrew M. Sorn
- Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Andrew M. Sorn
- Center for Virus Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Andrew M. Sorn
- Vaccine Research and Development Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- David R. Mcllwain
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Reno School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States
- Jenny E. Hernandez-Davies
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Jenny E. Hernandez-Davies
- Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Jenny E. Hernandez-Davies
- Center for Virus Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Jenny E. Hernandez-Davies
- Vaccine Research and Development Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Aarti Jain
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Aarti Jain
- Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Aarti Jain
- Vaccine Research and Development Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Rafael de Assis
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Rafael de Assis
- Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Rafael de Assis
- Vaccine Research and Development Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Douglas Trask
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
- D. Huw Davies
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- D. Huw Davies
- Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- D. Huw Davies
- Center for Virus Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- D. Huw Davies
- Vaccine Research and Development Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Lisa E. Wagar
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Lisa E. Wagar
- Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Lisa E. Wagar
- Center for Virus Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Lisa E. Wagar
- Vaccine Research and Development Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1373537
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 15
Abstract
Sex-based differences in immune cell composition and function can contribute to distinct adaptive immune responses. Prior work has quantified these differences in peripheral blood, but little is known about sex differences within human lymphoid tissues. Here, we characterized the composition and phenotypes of adaptive immune cells from male and female ex vivo tonsils and evaluated their responses to influenza antigens using an immune organoid approach. In a pediatric cohort, female tonsils had more memory B cells compared to male tonsils direct ex vivo and after stimulation with live-attenuated but not inactivated vaccine, produced higher influenza-specific antibody responses. Sex biases were also observed in adult tonsils but were different from those measured in children. Analysis of peripheral blood immune cells from in vivo vaccinated adults also showed higher frequencies of tissue homing CD4 T cells in female participants. Together, our data demonstrate that distinct memory B and T cell profiles are present in male vs. female lymphoid tissues and peripheral blood respectively and suggest that these differences may in part explain sex biases in response to vaccines and viruses.
Keywords