“The Impact of Masculinizing Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy on Toll-Like Receptor Expression”
Project no. 25237 · Status: Kapanmış (Yayın bekleniyor) · 2023
Summary
<p>Sex based differences in the immune system are well-documented in the literature. The influence of the sex on the immune system is primarly attributed via chromosomal and sex hormone mediation. Cismen generally exhibit a weaker immune response compared to ciswomen. this contrast extends to various immune mediated diseases where cismen show a higher incidence of infections.</p><p>Methods This study was conducted between October 2022 and November 2023, as a prospective observational study involving 21 healthy transgendermen with XX chromosomes. All participants were testosterone naive at baseline. Over a 6 month period, participants underwent routine clinical care, with testosterone levels targeted towards cis-men ranges. Immunological, hormonal, and biochemical parameters were assesed. TLR expressions were measured on whole blood using real-time PCR at baseline, and 6-month beta actin and GAPDH served as housekeeping control genes.</p><p>Results At the 6-month assessment, changes in TLR expressions were evaluated, revealing noteworthy alterations. TKR2, TLR3, TLR6, TLR 10, CD14 and MD2displayed varying degrees of modulation. Of a paritculatr interest, TLR8 exhibited a significant decrease expression from 3.5 to 2.6 (p=0.0016), a similar decrease was also observed for TLR10nfrom 6.2 to 4.7 (p<0.001)</p><p>Conclusion This study sheds new light on the intricate dynamics of immune modulation in transgender men undergoing testosterone therapy revealing specific alteration in TLR expressions. The statistically significant changes observed for TLR8 and TLR10nsuggest a nuanced impact of testosterone on immune markers and once again demonastrates immune suppressive mechanism of testosterone</p>