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Sexual-dimorphism in human immune system aging

Author

Listed:
  • Eladio J. Márquez

    (The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine
    Sanofi US)

  • Cheng-han Chung

    (The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine)

  • Radu Marches

    (The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine)

  • Robert J. Rossi

    (The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine)

  • Djamel Nehar-Belaid

    (The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine)

  • Alper Eroglu

    (The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine)

  • David J. Mellert

    (The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine)

  • George A. Kuchel

    (University of Connecticut Center on Aging, UConn Health Center)

  • Jacques Banchereau

    (The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine)

  • Duygu Ucar

    (The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine
    University of Connecticut
    University of Connecticut Health Center)

Abstract

Differences in immune function and responses contribute to health- and life-span disparities between sexes. However, the role of sex in immune system aging is not well understood. Here, we characterize peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 172 healthy adults 22–93 years of age using ATAC-seq, RNA-seq, and flow cytometry. These data reveal a shared epigenomic signature of aging including declining naïve T cell and increasing monocyte and cytotoxic cell functions. These changes are greater in magnitude in men and accompanied by a male-specific decline in B-cell specific loci. Age-related epigenomic changes first spike around late-thirties with similar timing and magnitude between sexes, whereas the second spike is earlier and stronger in men. Unexpectedly, genomic differences between sexes increase after age 65, with men having higher innate and pro-inflammatory activity and lower adaptive activity. Impact of age and sex on immune phenotypes can be visualized at https://immune-aging.jax.org to provide insights into future studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Eladio J. Márquez & Cheng-han Chung & Radu Marches & Robert J. Rossi & Djamel Nehar-Belaid & Alper Eroglu & David J. Mellert & George A. Kuchel & Jacques Banchereau & Duygu Ucar, 2020. "Sexual-dimorphism in human immune system aging," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-14396-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14396-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Jie Sun & Ming Wang & Yaqi Zhong & Xuan Ma & Shimin Sun & Chenzhong Xu & Linyuan Peng & Guo Li & Liting Zhang & Zuojun Liu & Ding Ai & Baohua Liu, 2022. "A Glb1-2A-mCherry reporter monitors systemic aging and predicts lifespan in middle-aged mice," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.

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