AREG and infection: Twenty-four hours after infection, there was a significant increase in Areg mRNA (p < 0.05; Fig. 2d) and secreted protein (p < 0.05; Fig. 2e) from mTECs derived from male, but not female mice (p < 0.05 for interaction, Fig. 2d), and Areg expression was significantly greater in IAV-infected cultures from males as compared with IAV-infected cultures from females.