Author
Listed:
- Tian Bai
(Viral Zoonoses-One Health, Leibniz Institute for Virology (LIV)
Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Yongkun Chen
(Sun Yat-sen University
Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University)
- Sebastian Beck
(Viral Zoonoses-One Health, Leibniz Institute for Virology (LIV))
- Stephanie Stanelle-Bertram
(Viral Zoonoses-One Health, Leibniz Institute for Virology (LIV))
- Nancy Kouassi Mounogou
(Viral Zoonoses-One Health, Leibniz Institute for Virology (LIV))
- Tao Chen
(Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Jie Dong
(Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Bettina Schneider
(University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover)
- Tingting Jia
(Sun Yat-sen University
Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University)
- Jing Yang
(Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Lijie Wang
(Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Andreas Meinhardt
(Justus-Liebig University of Gießen)
- Antonia Zapf
(University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf)
- Lothar Kreienbrock
(University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover)
- Dayan Wang
(Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Yuelong Shu
(Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Sun Yat-sen University
Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University
Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College)
- Gülsah Gabriel
(Viral Zoonoses-One Health, Leibniz Institute for Virology (LIV)
University of Veterinary Medicine)
Abstract
Human infections with H7N9 avian influenza A virus that emerged in East China in 2013 and caused high morbidity rates were more frequently detected in men than in women over the last five epidemic waves. However, molecular markers associated with poor disease outcomes in men are still unknown. In this study, we systematically analysed sex hormone and cytokine levels in males and females with laboratory-confirmed H7N9 influenza in comparison to H7N9-negative control groups as well as laboratory-confirmed seasonal H1N1/H3N2 influenza cases (n = 369). Multivariable analyses reveal that H7N9-infected men present with considerably reduced testosterone levels associated with a poor outcome compared to non-infected controls. Regression analyses reveal that testosterone levels in H7N9-infected men are negatively associated with the levels of several pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and IL-15. To assess whether there is a causal relationship between low testosterone levels and avian H7N9 influenza infection, we used a mouse model. In male mice, we show that respiratory H7N9 infection leads to a high viral load and inflammatory cytokine response in the testes as well as a reduction in pre-infection plasma testosterone levels. Collectively, these findings suggest that monitoring sex hormone levels may support individualized management for patients with avian influenza infections.
Suggested Citation
Tian Bai & Yongkun Chen & Sebastian Beck & Stephanie Stanelle-Bertram & Nancy Kouassi Mounogou & Tao Chen & Jie Dong & Bettina Schneider & Tingting Jia & Jing Yang & Lijie Wang & Andreas Meinhardt & A, 2022.
"H7N9 avian influenza virus infection in men is associated with testosterone depletion,"
Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
Handle:
RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-34500-5
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34500-5
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