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Influence of Androgen and Estrogen on Delayed Skin Test Reactivity to Candida albicans
1Departments of Microbiology and Medicine, Arizona Medical Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85724.
Abstract:
Recipient adult male CFW mice were passively sensitized to candida delayed skin test reactivity with splenic lymphoid cells from candida-vaccinated donor females. In recipient adult males that had been bilaterally gonadectomized as weanlings, before passive sensitization, reactivity was less than in the unilaterally gonadectomized controls. Adult males bilaterally gonadectomized as weanlings were treated with gonadal hormones during passive sensitization. 17beta-estradiol was found to decrease reactivity, whereas testosterone was found to increase reactivity. These data provide evidence that delayed skin test reactivity produced by female lymphoid cells is depressed by estrogen and is stimulated by androgen.
Insights
Gonadal hormones significantly influence immune responses. Estrogen, from estradiol, decreased candida delayed skin test reactivity, while testosterone increased it in male mice.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Cell-mediated immunity, specifically delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin tests, is crucial for host defense against fungal infections like Candida.
- Gonadal hormones are known to modulate immune system function, but their specific effects on DTH reactivity mediated by sex-specific lymphoid cells require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of gonadal hormones, specifically estrogen and testosterone, on the passive transfer of Candida-specific DTH reactivity mediated by female splenic lymphoid cells in male mice.
- To determine whether gonadectomy and subsequent hormone replacement influence this immune response.
Main Methods:
- Passive sensitization of adult male CFW mice with splenic lymphoid cells from Candida-vaccinated female donors.
- Comparison of DTH reactivity in bilaterally gonadectomized (as weanlings) versus unilaterally gonadectomized male mice.
- Hormone replacement therapy in bilaterally gonadectomized mice using 17beta-estradiol and testosterone during passive sensitization.
Main Results:
- Bilaterally gonadectomized male mice exhibited reduced Candida DTH reactivity compared to unilaterally gonadectomized controls.
- Treatment with 17beta-estradiol significantly decreased DTH reactivity.
- Treatment with testosterone significantly increased DTH reactivity.
Conclusions:
- Estrogen, mediated by 17beta-estradiol, suppresses DTH reactivity transferred by female lymphoid cells.
- Androgen, mediated by testosterone, stimulates DTH reactivity transferred by female lymphoid cells.
- Gonadal hormones play a critical role in modulating cell-mediated immune responses, with opposing effects observed for estrogen and testosterone.
