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Sex-specific Immune Responses to Severe Influenza Virus Infection

Award Number: R21AI151418
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/01/2020
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2023

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Sex-specific Immune Responses to Severe Influenza Virus Infection - Sex-specific Immune Responses to Severe Influenza Virus Infection ABSTRACT Men and women experience influenza virus infection differently, with women often experiencing a more severe infection. Lung immunopathology is a major contributing factor to influenza virus disease severity and has been linked to differential disease outcomes in men and women. The differences between male and female immune responses during infection are the immune response dynamics, i.e. the speed and magnitude of the reaction of key immune molecules and cells to the virus. These dynamics are regulated by the molecular and cellular interactions that comprise the lung immune system, and it has been shown that lung immune dynamics can be altered in women by altering levels of circulating sex steroids (estradiol) to affect lung inflammation and overall infection severity. Here, we propose an experimental and computational modeling study to quantify the differential immune kinetics that drive the distinct lung immunopathological outcomes observed between men and women. Human male and female infection outcomes have been recapitulated in mouse models. We will infect male and female mice with a moderate pandemic H1N1 virus and a deadly avian influenza virus, collect dynamic immunologic and hormone data, and train mathematical models to the data to quantify the immune kinetics regulating the differential dynamic lung immune responses observed between the sexes. The immunologic data will include major cytokines and immune cells with established significance to virus clearance and respiratory tissue inflammation. Successful completion of the research program will provide the first sex- specific mathematical models of influenza-induced immune responses, the first mathematical models of the avian influenza induced immune response, and the first mathematical models quantifying the impact of sex hormones on lung immune regulation in females. By quantifying which immune kinetics are different between males and females during moderately and severely pathogenic infections, we will generate novel hypotheses on the molecular/cellular origins of lung immunopathology during influenza infection and provide quantitative evidence on whether mechanisms promoting severe lung pathology are dependent on sex, virulence of the virus, or both factors. And quantifying the relationship between sex hormones and lung immune activity in females may provide insight into the mechanisms associated with the increased susceptibility experienced by pregnant women during severe influenza virus infection.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2024	2022	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	4200 FIFTH AVENUE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	7/24/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $148,510 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, THE	4200 5TH AVE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	11/15/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$148,510
														Subtotal = $148,510

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $278,498 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH THE	3520 FIFTH AVE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15213	ALLEGHENY	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	12/1/2020	NEW	$278,498
														Subtotal = $278,498

Grand Total All Awards = $427,008

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Sex-specific Immune Responses to Severe Influenza Virus Infection

Award Number: R21AI151418

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/01/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2023

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