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An In Vivo Estrogen Deficiency Mouse Model for Screening Exogenous Estrogen Treatments of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Menopause
Published on: August 13, 2019
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Could Estrogen Protect Women From COVID-19?
Roxanna Pirhadi1, Vikram Sinai Talaulikar2, Joseph Onwude3
1Faculty of Health, Education, Medicine and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, Second Floor William Harvey Building, Bishop Hall Lane, Chelmsford CM1 1SQ, UK.
Journal of Clinical Medicine Research
|October 8, 2020
Summary
Women show lower COVID-19 risk than men, possibly due to lifestyle or biological factors. This study explores how estrogen may protect women from viral infections like coronavirus disease 2019.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Genetics
Background:
- Women exhibit lower rates of contracting and dying from COVID-19, a trend also seen in SARS and MERS epidemics.
- While healthier lifestyle choices contribute, biological factors are also investigated for their role in these observed gender differences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the reasons behind the apparent gender disparity in COVID-19 outcomes.
- To evaluate the potential protective role of biological factors, specifically genetics and hormones, in women's response to viral infections.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing evidence on gender differences in infectious disease susceptibility.
- Analysis of the potential impact of X chromosome gene content and estrogen on immune response to viruses.
Main Results:
- Women generally adopt healthier lifestyles, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, and have fewer comorbidities like heart disease and diabetes.
- The X chromosome, with its high concentration of immune-related genes, may offer women a genetic advantage.
- Estrogen, the dominant female hormone, is hypothesized to play a protective role against viral infections.
Conclusions:
- Both lifestyle and biological factors likely contribute to women's lower risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes.
- Estrogen's potential antiviral properties warrant further investigation as a mechanism for female protection against coronaviruses.
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