Media Availability: Testosterone-Regulated Genes May Affect Vaccine-Induced Immunity

Media Availability: Testosterone-Regulated Genes May Affect Vaccine-Induced Immunity

Leading Research to Understand, Treat, and Prevent Infectious, Immunologic, and Allergic Diseases           Visit us on the Web Testosterone-Regulated Genes May Affect Vaccine-Induced Immunity An NIAID-funded study has identified a link between certain genes affected by testosterone and antibody responses to an influenza vaccine. The findings suggest that testosterone levels may partially explain why men often have weaker responses to vaccines than women. The study, led by researchers at Stanford University, is published online this week inProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The scientists found that men with high testosterone levels and elevated expression of a certain cluster of genes had weaker antibody responses to a seasonal influenza vaccine than women and men with low testosterone. The results suggest that testosterone may suppress vaccine-induced immune responses by altering gene expression patterns, although further research is needed to determine the mechanism. Read more about the study.