IMMUNE DIMORPHISM IN RELATION TO GENDER AND AGE

Aruna Bhatia*, Harmandeep Kaur Sekhon, Harpreet Kaur

ABSTRACT

Immune system is one of the crucial body systems that do not work in isolation and is affected by many factors like genetic, physiological and environmental. These factors tend to change the immune response due to the presence of sex hormone receptors on immune cells. The present study was done to determine the correlation of age, gender and immune status of normal healthy subjects leading to the basis of immune dimorphism. Serum samples of healthy male and female subjects were analyzed using following parameters- Total Leukocyte Count and Differential Leukocyte Count, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate and presence of free radicals- Nitrite levels and reduction of NBT dye. Results showed females had higher TLC, DLC, ESR as well as higher levels of free radicals as compared to males. But within females of two age groups i.e. cyclic and non- cyclic (menopausal females) variations in these values were observed. Levels of inflammation and immune response followed the trend: non cyclic females> cyclic females> males irrespective of age. It can be inferred from the study that gender and age affects the immune response with females showing a very strong immune response as compared to males.

Keywords: Leukocyte profile, inflammation, nitrite levels, free radicals.