title: Loss of the Sexually Dimorphic Neuro-Inflammatory Response in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We previously reported sex differences in depression-like behaviours in a mouse model of Huntington's disease (HD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We hypothesized that immune response could also be altered in HD mice in a sex-dependent manner.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here, we assessed the molecular effects of an acute challenge with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in female versus male R6/1 transgenic HD mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found an enhancement of LPS-induced TNF-α gene expression in the hypothalamus of female HD mice. TNF-α serum levels following LPS administration were also higher in female HD mice compared to WT animals. In contrast, male HD mice exhibited reduced LPS-induced TNF-α gene expression compared to WT animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that immune response to LPS is altered in HD mice in a sex-dependent manner. These pro-inflammatory abnormalities may contribute to the sexually dimorphic depression-like behaviours displayed by this mouse model of HD.
authors.affiliation: Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: Thibault
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Renoir
authors.affiliation: Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: Terence Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.affiliation: Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: Yoshiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shikano
authors.affiliation: Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: Shanshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.|Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hannan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
keywords: Huntington’s disease (HD); behaviour; cytokines; gene expression; immune response; lipopolysaccharides (LPS); sex differences