title: Gender-based differences in cytokine production after burn injury: a role of interleukin-6.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gender-specific differences have been found in the survival of patients after a burn injury. Using a murine model of burn injury, suppression of cell-mediated immunity occurs in a gender-specific manner. Immunosuppression correlated with elevated circulating interleukin-6. This study examines gender differences in cytokine production after injury and the role of interleukin-6.
  
  
  METHODS
  A murine model of dorsal scald injury was used to examine differences in splenocyte production of interleukin-2, interleukin-4, and interferon-gamma in male versus female mice, and cytokine production in interleukin-6-deficient male mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 24 hours after burn injury, there was substantially greater suppression of T-helper 1 cytokine production in male mice than in female mice. Interleukin-6-deficient male mice had improved cytokine production relative to wild-type mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Suppression of the cell-mediated immune response in male mice correlated with lower T-helper 1 cytokine production, compared with female mice. Additionally, immune response and cytokine production is improved by interleukin-6 deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Plackett
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Gamelli
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kovacs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007371:Interferon-gamma