Coxsackievirus B3 elicits a protective, sex-specific CD8 +T cell response in female mice

Abstract Sex is a significant contributor to the outcome of human infections. Males are frequently more susceptible viral, bacterial, and fungal infections, often attributed weaker immune responses. In contrast, heightened response in females enables better pathogen elimination but leaves predisposed autoimmune diseases. Unfortunately, underlying basis for sex-specific responses remains poorly understood. Here, we show sex difference CD8 +T cell an enteric virus, Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3). We found that CVB3 induced expansion cells female Ifnar −/−mice not male −/−mice. Using recombinant virus expressing model epitope, viral-specific due bystander activation. also increased proportion number CD11a hiCD62L loCD8 mice, indicative T However, activation dampened by primary hormone, testosterone, mice. Finally, using antibodies deplete cells, required limit CVB3-induced disease These data demonstrate induces sex-dependent important viral clearance mice highlights importance differences pathogens. This work was funded K01 DK110216, R03 DK124749, Biomedical Research Grant from Indiana Clinical Translational Sciences Institute CMR.