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Published on: September 7, 2018
Gender specific differences in the immune response to infection
Erin E McClelland1, Jennifer M Smith
1Department of Basic Sciences, The Commonwealth Medical College, 501 Madison Avenue, Scranton, PA 18510, USA. emcclelland@tcmedc.org
Archivum Immunologiae Et Therapiae Experimentalis
|March 29, 2011
Summary
Sex hormones and physiological differences influence how males and females respond to infections. Gender-specific immune responses vary depending on the specific microbe, indicating a complex interaction.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Sex Differences
Background:
- Males and females exhibit varying susceptibility to infections due to multifactorial causes.
- Sex hormones influencing gene expression and the immune system are primary suspected factors.
- Innate physiological differences between sexes may also contribute to differential infection susceptibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and summarize gender-specific differences in susceptibility to various infections.
- To explore the interplay between sex-linked immune variations and microbe-specific immune responses.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies examining sex differences in susceptibility to bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral infections.
Main Results:
- Gender-specific differences in infection susceptibility are observed across a range of pathogens.
- Not all infections show a consistent pattern of increased susceptibility in one gender over the other.
- Observed differences are dependent on the specific microbe involved.
Conclusions:
- Gender-specific immune variations play a significant role in differential infection susceptibility.
- The interaction between host sex and the specific pathogen determines the outcome of infection.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms underlying these sex-based immune differences.
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