The Impact of Gut Microbiota on Gender-Specific Differences in Immunity

Floris Fransen, Adriaan A. van Beek, Theo Borghuis, Ben Meijer, Floor Hugenholtz, Christa van der Gaast-de Jongh, Huub F. Savelkoul, Marien I. de Jonge, Marijke M. Faas, Mark V. Boekschoten, Hauke Smidt, Sahar El Aidy, Paul de Vos

Males and females are known to have gender-specific differences in their immune system and gut microbiota composition. Whether these differences in gut microbiota composition are a cause or consequence of differences in the immune system is not known. To investigate this issue, gut microbiota from conventional males or females was transferred to germ-free (GF) animals of the same or opposing gender. We demonstrate that microbiota-independent gender differences in immunity are already present in GF mice. In particular, type I interferon signaling was enhanced in the intestine of GF females. Presumably, due to these immune differences bacterial groups, such as Alistipes, Rikenella, and Porphyromonadaceae, known to expand in the absence of innate immune defense mechanism were overrepresented in the male microbiota. The presence of these bacterial groups was associated with induction of weight loss, inflammation, and DNA damage upon transfer of the male microbiota to female GF recipients. In summary, our data suggest that microbiota-independent gender differences in the immune system select a gender-specific gut microbiota composition, which in turn further contributes to gender differences in the immune system.