What’s Sex Got to Do With COVID-19? Gender-Based Differences in the Host Immune Response to Coronaviruses

August 2020 in “ Frontiers in Immunology ”

Nirupa Gadi, Samantha Wu, Allison P. Spihlman, Vaishali R. Moulton

sex hormones genes microbiome plasmacytoid dendritic cells Type I interferon Natural Killer cells T cells B cells HLA system immune modulation

TLDR Men generally have more severe COVID-19 cases and higher death rates than women due to biological differences.

The document reviews gender-based differences in the immune response to coronaviruses, particularly COVID-19, and suggests that biological factors such as sex hormones, genes, and the microbiome significantly influence these differences. It notes that men generally have higher case numbers, more severe disease, and higher mortality rates than women. The review discusses the role of various immune cells and pathways, including plasmacytoid dendritic cells, Type I interferon, Natural Killer cells, T cells, and B cells, highlighting that women often have stronger immune responses and may benefit from higher activation of certain pathways. It also explores genetic factors, the HLA system, and the impact of sex hormones on immune modulation. The document emphasizes the importance of considering sex differences in the design of therapies and vaccines for personalized medicine. However, it does not provide specific numbers of human participants in studies, as it references various studies with different methodologies and focuses on both human and animal data.

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