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

> **NIH NIH R21** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $234,438

## Abstract

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.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10258036
- **Project number:** 1R21AI157911-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Colleen F Kelley
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $234,438
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-04-01 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10258036

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10258036, Gender as a biological variable: transcriptomic analysis of rectal mucosal immune cells among transgender people (1R21AI157911-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10258036. Licensed CC0.

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