O'Sullivan LabMar 16, 2023

We have recently found that #NK cell effector function is sexually dimorphic. How? Female NK cells in mice and human express higher levels of the epigenetic regulator #UTX, which escapes X-linked inactivation. UTX regulates the chromatin accessibility of #IFNg and #Csf2, making female NK cells more potent in response to #cytokines and #viral infection.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41590-023-01463-8

The X-linked epigenetic regulator UTX controls NK cell-intrinsic sex differences - Nature Immunology

Cheng et al. demonstrate that an extra copy of the X-linked epigenetic regulator UTX in females increases natural killer (NK) cell effector function. As NK cells are critical for antiviral immunity, this may explain decreased severity of viral infections in females compared to males.

Nature
Carolyn KingFeb 3, 2023
this is really cool. The (evolutionarily conserved) extracellular binding domain of #IFNg restrains its local production - probably to reduce #immune pathology during excessive stimulation....clear implications (beyond delayed adaptive response!) for understanding host response to #tuberculosis, where #Tcells can prevent dissemination but are unable to sterilize the infection
https://t.co/idxK8xZ31d
IFNγ binding to extracellular matrix prevents fatal systemic toxicity - Nature Immunology

Here, the authors show that IFNγ binding to heparan sulfate is a mechanism to restrain IFNγ at the site of production, thereby preventing high systemic levels of this cytokine and associated immunopathology.

Nature