AUTHOR=Barcena Maria Luisa , Niehues Maximilian H. , Christiansen Céline , Estepa Misael , Haritonow Natalie , Sadighi Amir H. , Müller-Werdan Ursula , Ladilov Yury , Regitz-Zagrosek Vera TITLE=Male Macrophages and Fibroblasts from C57/BL6J Mice Are More Susceptible to Inflammatory Stimuli JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology VOLUME=12 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.758767 DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2021.758767 ISSN=1664-3224 ABSTRACT=

Mounting evidence argues for the significant impact of sex in numerous cardiac pathologies, including myocarditis. Macrophage polarization and activation of cardiac fibroblasts play a key role in myocardial inflammation and remodeling. However, the role of sex in these processes is still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated sex-specific alterations in the polarization of murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) and the polarization-related changes in fibroblast activation. Cultured male and female murine BMMs from C57/BL6J mice were polarized into M1 (LPS) and M2 (IL-4/IL-13) macrophages. Furthermore, male and female cardiac fibroblasts from C57/BL6J mice were activated with TNF-α, TGF-β, or conditioned medium from M1 BMMs. We found a significant overexpression of M1 markers (c-fos, NFκB, TNF-α, and IL-1β) and M2 markers (MCP-1 and YM1) in male but not female activated macrophages. In addition, the ROS levels were higher in M1 male BMMs, indicating a stronger polarization. Similarly, the pro-fibrotic markers TGF-β and IL-1β were expressed in activated cardiac male fibroblasts at a significantly higher level than in female fibroblasts. In conclusion, the present study provides strong evidence for the male-specific polarization of BMMs and activation of cardiac fibroblasts in an inflammatory environment. The data show an increased inflammatory response and tissue remodeling in male mice.