Sex hormones and allergies: exploring the gender differences in immune responses
Allergies are closely associated with sex-related hormonal variations that influence immune function, leading to distinct symptom profiles. Similar sex-based differences are observed in other immune disorders, such as autoimmune diseases. In allergies, women exhibit a higher prevalence of atopic con...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Allergy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/falgy.2024.1483919/full |
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| author | Jesús Alberto Gutiérrez-Brito José Álvaro Lomelí-Nieto José Francisco Muñoz-Valle Edith Oregon-Romero Jazz Alan Corona-Angeles Jorge Hernández-Bello |
| author_facet | Jesús Alberto Gutiérrez-Brito José Álvaro Lomelí-Nieto José Francisco Muñoz-Valle Edith Oregon-Romero Jazz Alan Corona-Angeles Jorge Hernández-Bello |
| author_sort | Jesús Alberto Gutiérrez-Brito |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Allergies are closely associated with sex-related hormonal variations that influence immune function, leading to distinct symptom profiles. Similar sex-based differences are observed in other immune disorders, such as autoimmune diseases. In allergies, women exhibit a higher prevalence of atopic conditions, such as allergic asthma and eczema, in comparison to men. However, age-related changes play a significant role because men have a higher incidence of allergies until puberty, and then comes a switch ratio of prevalence and severity in women. Investigations into the mechanisms of how the hormones influence the development of these diseases are crucial to understanding the molecular, cellular, and pathological aspects. Sex hormones control the reproductive system and have several immuno-modulatory effects affecting immune cells, including T and B cell development, antibody production, lymphoid organ size, and lymphocyte death. Moreover, studies have suggested that female sex hormones amplify memory immune responses, which may lead to an excessive immune response impacting the pathogenesis, airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammation of airways, and mucus production of allergic diseases. The evidence suggests that estrogens enhance immune humoral responses, autoimmunity, mast cell reactivity, and delayed IV allergic reactions, while androgens, progesterone, and glucocorticoids suppress them. This review explores the relationship between sex hormones and allergies, including epidemiological data, experimental findings, and insights from animal models. We discuss the general properties of these hormones, their effects on allergic processes, and clinical observations and therapeutic results. Finally, we describe hypersensitivity reactions to these hormones. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-12def8bd3991412fb6603b22de42a394 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-6101 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Allergy |
| spelling | doaj-art-12def8bd3991412fb6603b22de42a3942025-01-07T06:41:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Allergy2673-61012025-01-01510.3389/falgy.2024.14839191483919Sex hormones and allergies: exploring the gender differences in immune responsesJesús Alberto Gutiérrez-BritoJosé Álvaro Lomelí-NietoJosé Francisco Muñoz-ValleEdith Oregon-RomeroJazz Alan Corona-AngelesJorge Hernández-BelloAllergies are closely associated with sex-related hormonal variations that influence immune function, leading to distinct symptom profiles. Similar sex-based differences are observed in other immune disorders, such as autoimmune diseases. In allergies, women exhibit a higher prevalence of atopic conditions, such as allergic asthma and eczema, in comparison to men. However, age-related changes play a significant role because men have a higher incidence of allergies until puberty, and then comes a switch ratio of prevalence and severity in women. Investigations into the mechanisms of how the hormones influence the development of these diseases are crucial to understanding the molecular, cellular, and pathological aspects. Sex hormones control the reproductive system and have several immuno-modulatory effects affecting immune cells, including T and B cell development, antibody production, lymphoid organ size, and lymphocyte death. Moreover, studies have suggested that female sex hormones amplify memory immune responses, which may lead to an excessive immune response impacting the pathogenesis, airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammation of airways, and mucus production of allergic diseases. The evidence suggests that estrogens enhance immune humoral responses, autoimmunity, mast cell reactivity, and delayed IV allergic reactions, while androgens, progesterone, and glucocorticoids suppress them. This review explores the relationship between sex hormones and allergies, including epidemiological data, experimental findings, and insights from animal models. We discuss the general properties of these hormones, their effects on allergic processes, and clinical observations and therapeutic results. Finally, we describe hypersensitivity reactions to these hormones.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/falgy.2024.1483919/fullallergiessex hormonesestrogensglucocorticoidsprolactin |
| spellingShingle | Jesús Alberto Gutiérrez-Brito José Álvaro Lomelí-Nieto José Francisco Muñoz-Valle Edith Oregon-Romero Jazz Alan Corona-Angeles Jorge Hernández-Bello Sex hormones and allergies: exploring the gender differences in immune responses Frontiers in Allergy allergies sex hormones estrogens glucocorticoids prolactin |
| title | Sex hormones and allergies: exploring the gender differences in immune responses |
| title_full | Sex hormones and allergies: exploring the gender differences in immune responses |
| title_fullStr | Sex hormones and allergies: exploring the gender differences in immune responses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sex hormones and allergies: exploring the gender differences in immune responses |
| title_short | Sex hormones and allergies: exploring the gender differences in immune responses |
| title_sort | sex hormones and allergies exploring the gender differences in immune responses |
| topic | allergies sex hormones estrogens glucocorticoids prolactin |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/falgy.2024.1483919/full |
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