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The impact of sex hormones on BCG‐induced trained immunity
Author(s) -
Bree L.C.J.,
Janssen Robine,
Aaby Peter,
Crevel Reinout,
Joosten Leo A.B.,
Benn Christine Stabell,
Netea Mihai G.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1002/jlb.5ma0118-027r
Subject(s) - vaccination , immunology , immunity , immune system , biology , hormone , innate immune system , bcg vaccine , heterologous , proinflammatory cytokine , endocrinology , inflammation , biochemistry , gene
The anti‐tuberculosis vaccine Bacillus Calmette‐Guérin (BCG) is a well‐known immune modulator that induces nonspecific protective effects against heterologous infections through induction of innate immune memory, also termed “trained immunity.” In randomized trials in low weight newborns, BCG vaccination reduced neonatal mortality due to decreased incidence of sepsis and respiratory infections. In many studies, sex‐differential nonspecific effects of vaccines have been observed, but the mechanisms behind these differential effects are unknown. We investigated whether the important sex hormones estrogen and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) influence BCG‐induced trained immunity in human primary monocytes. Although addition of estradiol and DHT to BCG inhibited the production of proinflammatory cytokines after direct stimulation of human monocytes, they did not influence the induction of trained immunity by BCG. In addition, estradiol or DHT did not induce training or tolerance in monocytes themselves. We conclude that these important sex hormones are unlikely to explain the sex‐differential effects after BCG vaccination. Future studies should focus on the investigation of alternative mechanisms as an explanation for sex‐differential nonspecific effects of BCG vaccination.