Impact of Sex Hormones on Macrophage Responses to Coxiella burnetii

• DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.705088
• Publication Date: 2021-12-20T05:26:47Z
• Authors: Laetitia Gay; Cléa Melenotte; Alexandre Lopez; Benoit Desnues; Didier Raoult; Marc Leone; Soraya Mezouar; Jean-Louis Mege
• Keywords: Coxiella burnetii; Q fever

Q fever, a zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii, affects more males than females despite similar level of exposure. A protective role estradiol has been reported in mice, suggesting that sex hormones are involved C. burnetii infection. We wondered whether the responses monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) to influenced hormones.The bacterial intracellular fate was studied using quantitative PCR, monocyte cytokine production response assessed qRT-PCR immunoassays. Before infection, MDMs from were incubated with testosterone estradiol, respectively.Bacterial uptake persistence but slightly increased male MDMs. The expression inflammatory genes, including those encoding TNF CXCL10, higher infected burnetii. Adding amplified their immunoregulatory properties, IL10 TGFB genes TGF-β In contrast, adding had no effect on profile.The stronger profile may have role, likely under estrogen control, while affect disease progression promoting an anti-inflammatory response. This finding consequences for personalized management patients fever.