Comparison of food allergic immune responses in sensitized female and male Balb/c mouse induced by Lateolabrax japonicus tropomyosin.

Animal models have been widely used to explore the pathogenesis of food allergy. However, the influence of sex differences in mice on food allergy is unknown. In this study, recombinant tropomyosin (TM) exhibited IgE-binding activity comparable to that of natural TM in Lateolabrax japonicus, and could be used to construct fish-sensitized models. Female and male BALB/c mice were employed to characterize their susceptibility to TM, and the differences in allergic symptoms and immune responses were compared. Results showed that, compared with male mice, female mice had more severe disruptions in the intestinal barrier, as well as both stronger humoral (IgE, IgG2a) and Th2 immune responses (CD19+ B cells, IL-4). Furthermore, the disruption of Treg/Th17 balance in female mice was more significant than in male mice. Hence, BALB/c female mice are an ideal choice for establishing an food allergy model, highlights the significant role of genetic variation in the immune response.