The Gut Microbiota-Sex-Immunity Axis in Non-Communicable Diseases

Area of Science:

• Microbiome research
• Immunology
• Sex differences in health

Background:

• Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a leading global health burden.
• The gut microbiota (GM) plays a vital role in host health, including immune regulation and metabolic homeostasis.
• Emerging evidence suggests biological sex significantly impacts GM composition and function, potentially explaining sex-based differences in disease susceptibility and progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the influence of biological sex on the gut microbiota.
• To investigate the role of the sex-gut microbiota axis in non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
• To highlight the need for sex-stratified research in microbiome studies.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical and experimental studies examining sex differences in GM.
• Analysis of interactions between sex hormones, genetics, lifestyle, and GM.
• Examination of sex-specific GM metabolites and their effects.

Main Results:

• Sex hormones influence GM diversity and inflammatory responses (estrogens generally anti-inflammatory, androgens pro-inflammatory).
• GM metabolites like short-chain fatty acids and bile acids exhibit sex-specific effects on inflammation and immunity.
• Human studies are often confounded, necessitating cautious interpretation and further mechanistic research.

Conclusions:

• The sex-gut microbiota axis is increasingly supported by evidence, influencing NCD development.
• Current human studies are largely cross-sectional, lacking mechanistic depth and sex-specific considerations.
• Future research should focus on longitudinal, sex-stratified, multi-omics studies to elucidate causal pathways for personalized NCD strategies.