Abstract
Sex differences in immunity are well described in the literature and thought to be mainly driven by sex hormones and sex-linked immune response genes. The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is one of the largest immune organs in the body and contains multiple immune cells in the GIT-associated lymphoid tissue, Peyer’s patches and elsewhere, which together have profound effects on local and systemic inflammation. The GIT is colonised with microbial communities composed of bacteria, fungi and viruses, collectively known as the GIT microbiota. The GIT microbiota drives multiple interactions locally with immune cells that regulate the homeostatic environment and systemically in diverse tissues. It is becoming evident that the microbiota differs between the sexes, both in animal models and in humans, and these sex differences often lead to sex-dependent changes in local GIT inflammation, systemic immunity and susceptibility to a range of inflammatory diseases. The sexually dimorphic microbiome has been termed the ‘microgenderome’. Herein, we review the evidence for the microgenderome and contemplate the role it plays in driving sex differences in immunity and disease susceptibility. We further consider the impact that biological sex might play in the response to treatments aimed at manipulating the GIT microbiota, such as prebiotics, live biotherapeutics, (probiotics, synbiotics and bacteriotherapies) and faecal microbial transplant. These alternative therapies hold potential in the treatment of both psychological (e.g., anxiety, depression) and physiological (e.g., irritable bowel disease) disorders differentially affecting males and females.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 265-275 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Seminars in Immunopathology |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 15 Mar 2019 |
Keywords
- Adaptive immunity
- Bacteriotherapy
- Faecal microbiota transplant
- Innate immunity
- Probiotics
- Sex differences
- Sex hormones
Cite this
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The microgenderome revealed : sex differences in bidirectional interactions between the microbiota, hormones, immunity and disease susceptibility. / Vemuri, Ravichandra; Sylvia, Kristyn E.; Klein, Sabra L.; Forster, Samuel C.; Plebanski, Magdalena; Eri, Raj; Flanagan, Katie L.
In: Seminars in Immunopathology, Vol. 41, No. 2, 15.03.2019, p. 265-275.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - The microgenderome revealed
T2 - sex differences in bidirectional interactions between the microbiota, hormones, immunity and disease susceptibility
AU - Vemuri, Ravichandra
AU - Sylvia, Kristyn E.
AU - Klein, Sabra L.
AU - Forster, Samuel C.
AU - Plebanski, Magdalena
AU - Eri, Raj
AU - Flanagan, Katie L.
PY - 2019/3/15
Y1 - 2019/3/15
N2 - Sex differences in immunity are well described in the literature and thought to be mainly driven by sex hormones and sex-linked immune response genes. The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is one of the largest immune organs in the body and contains multiple immune cells in the GIT-associated lymphoid tissue, Peyer’s patches and elsewhere, which together have profound effects on local and systemic inflammation. The GIT is colonised with microbial communities composed of bacteria, fungi and viruses, collectively known as the GIT microbiota. The GIT microbiota drives multiple interactions locally with immune cells that regulate the homeostatic environment and systemically in diverse tissues. It is becoming evident that the microbiota differs between the sexes, both in animal models and in humans, and these sex differences often lead to sex-dependent changes in local GIT inflammation, systemic immunity and susceptibility to a range of inflammatory diseases. The sexually dimorphic microbiome has been termed the ‘microgenderome’. Herein, we review the evidence for the microgenderome and contemplate the role it plays in driving sex differences in immunity and disease susceptibility. We further consider the impact that biological sex might play in the response to treatments aimed at manipulating the GIT microbiota, such as prebiotics, live biotherapeutics, (probiotics, synbiotics and bacteriotherapies) and faecal microbial transplant. These alternative therapies hold potential in the treatment of both psychological (e.g., anxiety, depression) and physiological (e.g., irritable bowel disease) disorders differentially affecting males and females.
AB - Sex differences in immunity are well described in the literature and thought to be mainly driven by sex hormones and sex-linked immune response genes. The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is one of the largest immune organs in the body and contains multiple immune cells in the GIT-associated lymphoid tissue, Peyer’s patches and elsewhere, which together have profound effects on local and systemic inflammation. The GIT is colonised with microbial communities composed of bacteria, fungi and viruses, collectively known as the GIT microbiota. The GIT microbiota drives multiple interactions locally with immune cells that regulate the homeostatic environment and systemically in diverse tissues. It is becoming evident that the microbiota differs between the sexes, both in animal models and in humans, and these sex differences often lead to sex-dependent changes in local GIT inflammation, systemic immunity and susceptibility to a range of inflammatory diseases. The sexually dimorphic microbiome has been termed the ‘microgenderome’. Herein, we review the evidence for the microgenderome and contemplate the role it plays in driving sex differences in immunity and disease susceptibility. We further consider the impact that biological sex might play in the response to treatments aimed at manipulating the GIT microbiota, such as prebiotics, live biotherapeutics, (probiotics, synbiotics and bacteriotherapies) and faecal microbial transplant. These alternative therapies hold potential in the treatment of both psychological (e.g., anxiety, depression) and physiological (e.g., irritable bowel disease) disorders differentially affecting males and females.
KW - Adaptive immunity
KW - Bacteriotherapy
KW - Faecal microbiota transplant
KW - Innate immunity
KW - Probiotics
KW - Sex differences
KW - Sex hormones
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85054729395&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00281-018-0716-7
DO - 10.1007/s00281-018-0716-7
M3 - Review Article
VL - 41
SP - 265
EP - 275
JO - Seminars in Immunopathology
JF - Seminars in Immunopathology
SN - 1863-2297
IS - 2
ER -