Nature Communications (May 2018)

Testosterone is an endogenous regulator of BAFF and splenic B cell number

  • Anna S. Wilhelmson,
  • Marta Lantero Rodriguez,
  • Alexandra Stubelius,
  • Per Fogelstrand,
  • Inger Johansson,
  • Matthew B. Buechler,
  • Steve Lianoglou,
  • Varun N. Kapoor,
  • Maria E. Johansson,
  • Johan B. Fagman,
  • Amanda Duhlin,
  • Prabhanshu Tripathi,
  • Alessandro Camponeschi,
  • Bo T. Porse,
  • Antonius G. Rolink,
  • Hans Nissbrandt,
  • Shannon J. Turley,
  • Hans Carlsten,
  • Inga-Lill Mårtensson,
  • Mikael C. I. Karlsson,
  • Åsa Tivesten

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-04408-0
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1
pp. 1 – 13

Abstract

Read online

Testosterone deficiency is associated with autoimmunity and increased B cell numbers, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here the authors show that testosterone may modulate the production of B cell survival factor BAFF by fibroblastic reticular cells via regulation of splenic neurotransmitter levels.