Figure 4
From: Sexual dimorphism during integrative endocrine and immune responses to ionizing radiation in mice
Longitudinal lymphocyte monitoring following irradiation displayed sex-specific effects. 24-week-old male and female C57Bl/6J mice were exposed to GCRsim (0, 15, and 50 cGy) and at 3- and 14-days post-irradiation, blood was collected. Red blood cells were lysed, leukocytes were stimulated for 16-h with a cell stimulation cocktail, stained, and analyzed by flow cytometry. Longitudinal monitoring of Thelper (Th, CD4+/CD3+) cell development percentages (%) post-irradiation in females (orange) and males (green) at day 3 (A) and day 14 (B) post-irradiation. Th cell function assessed Th1 (IFNγ) median fluorescence intensity (MFI) (C) and Th2 (IL-4) MFI production (D) from CD4+/CD3+ lymphocytes. Longitudinal monitoring of Tcytotoxic (Tc, CD8+/CD3+) cell development % post-irradiation in females and males at day 3 (E) and day 14 (F) post-irradiation. Tc cell function assessed (IFNγ) median fluorescence intensity (MFI) (G). Parametric statistical analysis was performed on (A) and (D). Nonparametric analyses were performed on (B, C, E, F, and G), as described in the methods section. Data represent ± SEM, p* < 0.05, p** < 0.01, n = 7–12 per group.
