title: Sex differences in glia reactivity after cortical brain injury.
abstract: Several brain disorders associated with neuroinflammation show sex differences in their incidence, onset, progression and/or outcome. The different regulation of the neuroinflammatory response in males and females could underlie these sex differences. In this study, we have explored whether reactive gliosis after a penetrating cortical injury exhibits sex differences. Males presented a higher density of Iba1 immunoreactive cells in the proximity of the wound (0-220 μm) than females. This sex difference was due to a higher number of Iba1 immunoreactive cells with nonreactive morphology. In addition microglia/macrophages in that region expressed arginase-1, marker of alternatively activated microglia, and the neuroprotective protein Neuroglobin, in a greater proportion in males than in females. No sex differences were found in the number of astrocytes around the lesion. However, the percentage of astrocytes expressing chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), involved in recruitment of immune cells and gliosis regulation, was higher in males. Males also presented a significantly higher density of neurons in the lesion edge than females. These findings indicate that male and female mice have different neuroinflammatory responses after a cortical stab wound injury and suggest that sex differences in reactive gliosis may contribute to sex differences in neuroinflammatory diseases. GLIA 2015;63:1966-1981.
authors.affiliation: Consejo Superior De Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC), Instituto Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Estefania
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Acaz-Fonseca
authors.affiliation: Consejo Superior De Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC), Instituto Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Duran
authors.affiliation: Consejo Superior De Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC), Instituto Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Paloma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carrero
authors.affiliation: Consejo Superior De Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC), Instituto Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Garcia-Segura
authors.affiliation: Consejo Superior De Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC), Instituto Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M Angeles
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Arevalo
keywords: astrocyte; chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2; microglia polarization; neuroglobin