Gender-specific differences in PPAR? regulation of follicular helper T cell responses with estrogen.

ABSTRACT: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR?), a master regulator of adipocyte differentiation, has recently been connected with effector T cells, though its role is still not clear. Here, we investigated the roles of PPAR? in follicular helper T (TFH) cell responses regarding gender specificity. NP-OVA immunization in female but not male CD4-PPAR?(KO) mice induced higher proportions of TFH cells and germinal center (GC) B cells following immunization than were seen in wild type mice. Treatment with the PPAR? agonist pioglitazone significantly reduced TFH cell responses in female mice while pioglitazone and estradiol (E2) co-treatment ameliorated TFH cells and GC responses in male mice. E2 treatment significantly enhanced PPAR? expression in male T cells, while T cell activation in the estrus but not in the diestrus stage of the menstrual cycle of females was inhibited by pioglitazone, suggesting that an estrogen-sufficient environment is important for PPAR?-mediated T cell regulation. These results demonstrate gender-based differences in sensitivities of PPAR? in TFH responses. These findings suggest that appropriate function of PPAR? is required in the regulation of female GC responses and that therapeutic strategies for autoimmune diseases using PPAR? agonists need to be tailored accordingly.

SUBMITTER: Park HJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4917844 | biostudies-other | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other