Cryptococcus gattii (Cg) is one of the agents of cryptococcosis, a severe systemic mycosis with a higher prevalence in men than women, but the influence of the female sex hormone, 17-β-estradiol (E2), on cryptococcosis remains unclear. Our study shows that female mice presented delayed mortality, increased neutrophil recruitment in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and reduced fungal load after 24 hr of infection compared to male and ovariectomised female mice (OVX). E2 replacement restored OVX female survival. Female macrophages have more efficient fungicidal activity, which was increased by E2 and reversed by the antagonist of G-protein-coupled oestrogen receptor (GPER), which negatively modulates PI3K activation. Furthermore, E2 induces a reduction in Cg cell diameter, cell charge, and antioxidant peroxidase activity. In conclusion, female mice present improved control of Cg infection, and GPER is important for E2 modulation of the female response.

中文翻译：

---

17-β-雌二醇通过激活G蛋白偶联的雌激素受体来增强巨噬细胞活性，并改善雌性小鼠对加蒂隐球菌的反应。

加蒂隐球菌（Cg）是隐球菌病的一种药物，隐球菌病是一种严重的全身性真菌病，男性患病率高于女性，但是女性性激素17-β-雌二醇（E2）对隐球菌病的影响尚不清楚。我们的研究表明，与雄性和卵巢切除的雌性小鼠（OVX）相比，雌性小鼠在感染24小时后表现出延迟的死亡率，中性粒细胞在支气管肺泡灌洗液中的募集增加以及真菌负荷降低。E2替代恢复了OVX女性生存。雌性巨噬细胞具有更有效的杀真菌活性，E2增强了该杀真菌活性，而G蛋白偶联雌激素受体（GPER）的拮抗剂逆转了该活性，从而对PI3K的激活产生了负调控。此外，E2引起Cg细胞直径，细胞电荷和抗氧化剂过氧化物酶活性的降低。结论，