Gender as a biological variable: transcriptomic analysis of rectal mucosal immune cells among transgender people

项目摘要 变性人是指出生时被指定性别的人，但由于他们的性别而经历焦虑。 经历了性别不符合他们的指定性别。治疗性别焦虑症的一种方法是 使用性别肯定激素疗法，以促进所需性别的身体特征。这是高度 鉴于艾滋病毒疫苗应答中出现的二元（例如男性/女性）性别特异性差异， 暴露前预防效果、病毒发病机制和病毒储库，至少部分归因于， 性激素事实上，性行为驱动的免疫细胞转录组和功能多样性， 跨性别者的直肠粘膜（RM）可能对艾滋病预防和治疗产生深远影响 这些人口的战略。这是一个强有力的论据，说明迫切需要进行基础性的基础研究 单细胞转录组学和RM驻留免疫细胞的功能测定，跨性别和性别 江西篇章在目标1中，我们将重点定义适应性免疫细胞的性别特异性特征 从顺性别男性和女性，以及跨性别男性和女性，通过高分辨率，单细胞 转录组学在目标2中，我们将定义先天免疫的性别特异性和性别特异性转录组学特征， 细胞，以及量化性别和NK细胞功能的性别差异。更完整地理解 性激素和性染色体对免疫系统的影响范围将促进战略性艾滋病毒 适合变性人的预防和治疗策略。

Project summary Transgender persons are individuals who were assigned a sex at birth, but experience dysphoria due to their experienced gender not aligning with their assigned sex. One avenue of treatment for gender dysphoria is the use of gender affirming hormone therapy to promote the physical characteristics of the desired sex. This is highly relevant in light of the emerging binary (e.g. male/female) sex-specific differences in HIV vaccine responses, pre-exposure prophylaxis efficacy, viral pathogenesis, and viral reservoir, that may be attributed, at least in part, to sex hormones. Indeed, sex hormone-driven transcriptomic and functional diversity of immune cells within the rectal mucosa (RM) of transgender individuals could have a profound impact on HIV prevention and treatment strategies for theses populations. This is a strong argument for a critical need for basic, foundational research into single-cell transcriptomics and functional assays of RM-residing immune cells, across the gender and sex spectrum. In Aim 1, we will focus on defining the gender- and sex-specific features of adaptive immune cells from cisgender men and women, as well as transgender men and women, via high-resolution, single-cell transcriptomics. In Aim 2, we will define the gender- and sex-specific transcriptomic features of innate immune cells, as well as quantifying gender and sex differences in NK cell function. A more complete understanding of the spectrum of sex-hormone and sex-chromosome influence on the immune system will facilitate strategic HIV prevention and treatment strategies appropriate for transgender individuals.