Women, Immunology, Nutrition and Exercise: WINE study. An approach to female physiology focusing on sex hormone receptors and monocyte morpho-functionality according to reproductive phases.

• Grant number: 23/14597-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: August 01, 2024
• End date: July 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Metabolism and Bioenergetics
• Principal Investigator: Fábio Santos de Lira
• Grantee: Barbara de Moura Mello Antunes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Sex hormones are known to interact with the immune system on multiple levels given that sex hormone receptors (SHRs) have been found in several types of immune cells including mononuclear cells, such as monocytes. Nonetheless, it is not clear how the level of physical fitness may control the inflammatory response in women at different stages of their reproductive life. In this sense, information on how the inflammatory response is modulated in the different female physiological cycles and how the practice of physical exercise can act as a regulatory factor is incipient. Thus, the purpose of the present project will be to investigate how hormone concentrations in different female reproductive phases modulate the inflammatory response via sex hormone receptors in CD14+ monocytes of women with different cardiorespiratory fitness. In this perspective, the present research will be divided into two steps in order to investigate the inflammatory response according to the different reproductive cycle phases. Phase 1 will be conducted with women in the reproductive phase (18-35 years) divided into groups of low and high oxygen uptake (Low VO2 and High VO2) in order to analyze the impacts of the hormonal fluctuation during the follicular, ovulation and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Phase 2 will be conducted with women of the three main reproductive phases (pre-menopause (40-45 years), menopause (50-55 years) and post-menopause (above 60 years) classified as Low VO2 and High VO2 in order to investigate the effects of hormonal changes and/or reductions. Both phases will consist of four specific studies performed in vivo and/or in vitro, with Study 1) Systemic and cellular inflammatory screening; Study 2) Morpho-functionality of CD14+ monocytes; Study 3) in vitro dose-response assay with CD14+ monocytes treated with different estradiol concentrations investigating inflammatory signaling pathways.