Sexual Dimorphism In The Relationship Of Ii-18 To Splenocyte Apoptosis And Mortality During Systemic Inflammation

The present study investigated sexual dimorphism in the roles of IL-18 in splenocyte apoptosis and mortality during systemic inflammation In mice. Male and female wild-type (WT) mice and IL-18 knockout (KO) mice were injected intraperitoneally with LPS or PBS. Plasma IL-18 levels, the splenocyte apoptosis rate and mortality in male WT mice were significantly higher than in female WT mice. The apoptosis rate in splenocytes and mortality were lower in the male KO mouse group than in the male WT mouse group, whereas there were no differences between the female WT and female KO mouse groups. In conclusion, over-production of IL-18 is implicated in the induction of apoptosis In splenocytes and increased mortality in males but not in females during endotoxin-induced systemic inflammation in mice.