Sex differences in anti-EBV antibody responses

Abstract

We investigated anti-EBV IgA and IgG responses by sex among 387 cancer-free individuals in Asia. Antibody responses were measured using an EBV proteome array to assess age-adjusted sex-specific associations with 404 EBV-antigens in 86 protein sequences via meta-analysis and pathway analysis by EBV stage. Males were more likely to have elevated IgA responses (P=0.001) and females had higher IgG responses (P=0.003). Significant sex associations were observed across stages of lytic replication. The largest sex differences were seen in latent IgA, but no differences were observed in latent IgG antibodies. Higher IgA responses suggest higher rates of EBV reactivation in males.