Factors Contributing to Sex Differences in Mice Inhaling <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i>

• Main Authors: Andrea L. Schaefer, Mai Ceesay, Jennicca A. Leier, Jacob Tesch, Brian D. Wisenden, Sumali Pandey
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-11-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: airway remodeling; collagen; mucus; principal component analysis; IgE
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/23/8851
• ISSN: 1661-7827; 1660-4601

<i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> is a respiratory fungal pathogen and an allergen, commonly detected in flooded indoor environments and agricultural settings. Previous studies in Balb/c mice showed that repeated inhalation of live and dry <i>A. fumigatus</i> spores, without any adjuvant, elevated allergic immune response and airway remodeling. Sex-specific differences can influence host-pathogen interactions and allergic-asthma related outcomes. However, the effect of host sex on immune response, in the context of <i>A. fumigatus</i> exposure, remains unknown. In this study, we quantified the multivariate and univariate immune response of C57BL/6J mice to live, dry airborne <i>A. fumigatus</i> spores. Our results corroborate previous results in Balb/c mice that repeated inhalation of live <i>A. fumigatus</i> spores is sufficient to induce mucus production and inflammation by day 3 post last challenge, and antibody titers and collagen production by day 28 post-challenge. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed that females exhibited significantly higher levels of immune components than males did. Taken together, our data indicate that host-sex is an important factor in shaping the immune response against <i>A. fumigatus</i>, and must be considered when modeling disease in animals, in designing diagnostics and therapeutics for <i>A.fumigatus</i>-associated diseases or while drafting evidence-based guidelines for safe mold levels.