Gender Specific Influences on Effector T-Cell Function and Proliferation: Hormonal Targeting to Modulate Cellular Rejection in Transplantation

What is it about?

Gender differences are seen in many disease processes. There is a growing awareness for gender-specific hormonal regulation of immunomodulatory roles however,the mechanism remains unexplained. 2-Methoxyestradiol (2ME2) is an endogenous metabolite of estrogen that is non-estrogenic and is found in lower levels in men than women.2ME2 has been studied in cancer as an antimitotic-agent that is beneficial by its selectivity in targeting only actively proliferating cancer cells without toxicity to normal cells. As its effect in a transplant rejection setting remains unknown, we hypothesized that 2ME2 can inhibit activated T-cell function.

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Why is it important?

Gender differences are seen in many disease processes. There is a growing awareness for gender-specific hormonal regulation of immunomodulatory roles however,the mechanism remains unexplained. 2-Methoxyestradiol (2ME2) is an endogenous metabolite of estrogen that is non-estrogenic and is found in lower levels in men than women.2ME2 has been studied in cancer as an antimitotic-agent that is beneficial by its selectivity in targeting only actively proliferating cancer cells without toxicity to normal cells. As its effect in a transplant rejection setting remains unknown, we hypothesized that 2ME2 can inhibit activated T-cell function.