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Sex differences in the early life correlates of natural antibody concentrations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 August 2015

A. C. Palmer ,
K. J. Schulze ,
S. K. Khatry ,
L. M. De Luca  and
K. P. West Jr
A. C. Palmer*
Affiliation:
Department of International Health, Center for Human Nutrition, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
K. J. Schulze
Affiliation:
Department of International Health, Center for Human Nutrition, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
S. K. Khatry
Affiliation:
Department of International Health, Center for Human Nutrition, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA Nepal Nutrition Intervention Project, Sarlahi, Nepal National Society for the Prevention of Blindness, Kathmandu, Nepal
L. M. De Luca
Affiliation:
Department of International Health, Center for Human Nutrition, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
K. P. West Jr
Affiliation:
Department of International Health, Center for Human Nutrition, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr A. C. Palmer, Department of International Health, Center for Human Nutrition, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. (Email apalme17@jhu.edu)
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Abstract

Innate-like B1a lymphocytes arise from long-lived progenitors produced exclusively by fetal stem cells. Any insults coinciding with this early lymphopoietic wave could have a permanent impact on the B1a population and its unique protein products, the natural antibodies (NAb). We investigated early life nutritional influences on NAb concentrations of pre-adolescent children (n=290) in rural Nepal for whom we had extensive information on exposures from pregnancy and early infancy. Infant size and growth were strongly associated with NAb concentrations at 9–13 years of age among males (e.g., for neonatal weight: βBOYS=0.43; P<0.001), but not females (e.g., for neonatal weight: βGIRLS=−0.16; P=0.26). In females, season of birth was associated with NAb concentrations, with marked reductions among girls born during the pre-monsoon (March–May; βGIRLS=−0.39; P=0.01) and pre-harvest (September–November; βGIRLS=−0.35; P=0.03) seasons. Our findings suggest that nutritional or other environmental influences on immune development may vary by sex, with potential consequences for immune function during infancy and long-term risk of immune-mediated disease.

Keywords

immune developmentlymphopoiesisprogrammingsexual dimorphism
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease , Volume 6 , Supplement 6 , December 2015 , pp. 501 - 511
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Copyright
© Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2015 

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