Male Sex Hormones Suppress Lung Allergies by Acting on Neurons in Mice
A study in mice found that male sex hormones can suppress allergic responses by promoting sympathetic nerve connections and norepinephrine release in the lungs. The post Male Sex Hormones Suppress Lung Allergies by Acting on Neurons in Mice appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News .
A recent study led by researchers at Peking University Third Hospital Cancer Center has discovered how male sex hormones can suppress allergic responses in mice by acting on neurons in the lungs. The findings, published in Science Immunology, provide insight into the sex differences in asthma prevalence and severity.
In the study, early exposure to house dust mite (HDM) allergens triggered greater type 2 immune inflammation in female mice compared to male mice. However, this difference disappeared when gonad removal surgery was performed prior to allergen exposure. To verify the role of male gonadal hormones in suppressing allergic inflammation, researchers administered testosterone to both male and female mice that had undergone a gonadectomy and were subsequently exposed to HDM.
The treatment led to a reduction in type 2 immune cell infiltration and cytokine expression, effectively suppressing allergic inflammation.
The authors found that androgen receptor signaling promoted the development of sympathetic nerves in the lungs. Inactivating these receptors, however, worsened eosinophil recruitment and allergic inflammation. Furthermore, administering norepinephrine, a substance produced by sympathetic neurons in the lungs, lowered the levels of eosinophil-recruiting cytokines in immune cells.
Unlike previous research focusing on the direct interactions between androgens and pulmonary type 2 cells, this study revealed a neuroimmune mechanism in which androgens suppress allergen-induced inflammation indirectly by enhancing pulmonary sympathetic innervation. The authors speculate that this neuroimmune pathway may contribute to the reduced allergy prevalence in males after puberty and suggest further research to understand how norepinephrine regulates immune function.
They also propose investigating the interactions between neuroimmune mechanisms and other hormones, such as growth, thyroid, and corticosteroid hormones, to enhance understanding of asthma progression and discover new treatment targets.
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