title: Gender difference in cell-mediated immunity after thermal injury is mediated, in part, by elevated levels of interleukin-6.
abstract: The gender difference in normal immune function has been well documented, however, there is only limited information regarding whether such a difference occurs after injury. To investigate this, we examined cell-mediated immune responses in male and female mice given a 15% total body surface area dorsal scald or sham injury. Both delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) and splenocyte proliferative responses were significantly suppressed in males at 1 day and in females at 7 and 10 days post burn (P < 0.01). The decreased splenocyte proliferation was found to be macrophage-dependent and suppression of both immune parameters corresponded with elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. Furthermore, post-burn treatment with an anti-IL-6 antibody partially restored the DTH response in males at 1 day and females at 10 days post injury and completely restored splenocyte proliferation. These data demonstrate a possible mechanism for the gender difference in cell-mediated immune responses after thermal injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Burn and Shock Trauma Institute, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois 60513, USA.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Faunce
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Duffner
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kovacs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D002056:Burns / Q000276:immunology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D015850:Interleukin-6; D003208:Concanavalin A