Sex-specific and Hormonal Effects on Macrophage MMP-2 Activity in Response to Vitamin D

Abstract

This project investigates how sex, Vitamin D, 17β-estradiol (E2), and macrophage polarization affect MMP-2 activity, an important enzyme in extracellular matrix remodeling and inflammatory signaling. Using J774A.1 (XX) and RAW264.7 (XY) macrophages, the study shows that MMP-2 responses differ by cell line, hormonal environment, and treatment dose. Overall, the work highlights the importance of sex and hormone-aware cell biology research models for interpreting macrophage behavior in inflammation-related research, especially in the context of autoimmune disease, which primarily affects women.