# Role of perinatal androgens on the development of the sexually dimorphic mast cell

> **NIH NIH F30** · NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH · 2020 · $31,994

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
A major risk factor in the vulnerability to immune disorders is biological sex. In some of the most prevalent
immune disorders such as allergy/anaphylaxis, autoimmune disease, and chronic pain disorders, females are
at increased risk. Adult sex hormones, such as estrogen, may explain some of the sex differences; however,
this is challenged by the fact that many immune disorders exhibit a sex bias in prepubertal children. Our recent
published and preliminary studies have uncovered sex differences in the mast cell that may explain female
vulnerability or male resilience to many immune disorders. Mast cells are innate immune cells that act as
effector cells and orchestrators of the immune response. The fact that many mast cell-associated disorders
(allergy, autoimmune disease, chronic pain disorders, irritable bowel syndrome) exhibit a sex bias in both
childhood and adulthood positions the mast cell as a novel regulator of sex differences in immune diseases.
Specifically, we have shown that female mast cells possess an increased capacity to synthesize, store and
release potent mast cell mediators including histamine, serotonin, proteases, etc. In animal models of IgE-
mediated anaphylaxis and psychological stress, female animals exhibited enhanced release of mast cell
mediators and more severe pathophysiologic and clinical disease, similar to findings in humans. Moreover, our
recent preliminary data demonstrates that sex differences in mast cells emerge early in life prior to puberty and
thus may explain sex differences observed in children. The components of sexual differentiation that impact
the mast cell phenotype and consequently increase female vulnerability to immune disorders is unknown.
Based on preliminary data, we hypothesize that sex differences in mast cell phenotype and immune-related
disease susceptibility are established early in life by perinatal androgens. In this F30 proposal, we aim to
establish the role of perinatal androgens in determining sex differences in the mast cell and
susceptibility/resiliency to later life immune pathophysiology in immunological and psychological stress models.
Toward this goal, by conducting perinatal androgenization experiments in mice we will 1) identify the
contribution of perinatal androgens in mast cell disease susceptibility and 2) determine the contribution of
perinatal androgens in mast cell phenotype, function, and gene expression patterns. The exploratory studies
proposed in the grant application will represent a major paradigm shift in the understanding of sex and mast
cell-related immune disorders.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9902568
- **Project number:** 5F30OD025354-03
- **Recipient organization:** NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Emily Mackey
- **Activity code:** F30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $31,994
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-04-01 → 2020-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9902568

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9902568, Role of perinatal androgens on the development of the sexually dimorphic mast cell (5F30OD025354-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9902568. Licensed CC0.

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