Compensatory masculine responding as a function of sex role.

Investigated the compensatory masculinity hypothesis, i.e., that males respond to sex-role threat by exaggerating their masculinity and engaging in greater amounts of antisocial behavior. A total of 72 sex-typed and androgynous (Bem Sex Role Inventory) college males were assigned to either a masculinity threat, masculinity validation, or control treatment group. Dependent measures included an affect rating scale, California Psychological Inventory Femininity scale, and the Behavior Questionnaire. As predicted, sex-typed males responded anxiously to sex-role threat and subsequently reported exaggerated levels of masculinity and antisocial behavior. Unexpectedly, androgynous males also reported anxiety, but they responded by lowering their level of masculine endorsement. Results support the notion of masculine compensation. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

LDHB Overexpression Can Partially Overcome T Cell Inhibition by Lactic Acid

Accelerated glycolysis leads to secretion and accumulation of lactate and protons in the tumor environment and determines the efficacy of adoptive T cell and checkpoint inhibition therapy. Here, we analyzed effects of lactic acid on different human CD4 T cell subsets and aimed to increase CD4 T cell resistance towards lactic acid. In all CD4 T cell subsets analyzed, lactic acid inhibited metabolic activity (glycolysis and respiration), cytokine secretion, and cell proliferation. Overexpression of the lactate-metabolizing isoenzyme LDHB increased cell respiration and mitigated lactic acid effects on intracellular cytokine production. Strikingly, LDHB-overexpressing cells preferentially migrated into HCT116 tumor spheroids and displayed higher expression of cytotoxic effector molecules. We conclude, that LDHB overexpression might be a promising strategy to increase the efficacy of adoptive T cell transfer therapy.