TLDR Sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone may affect COVID-19 severity differently in men and women, potentially influencing prevention and treatment strategies.
The document "Are sex hormones promising candidates to explain sex disparities in the COVID-19 pandemic?" investigates the role of sex hormones, specifically estrogen and testosterone, in the differing impacts of COVID-19 on men and women. The paper suggests that estrogen, which enhances immune response, and testosterone, which can suppress it, may influence the severity of the disease, with men often being more severely affected. The paper also discusses the potential impact of genetic differences between males and females, including the role of the ACE2 gene, which is over-expressed in females and is the main receptor for SARS-CoV-2 cellular entry. The document concludes that understanding these sex-based differences could aid in developing more effective prevention and treatment strategies, including vaccine design. However, more research is needed to fully understand these relationships and their implications.
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July 2021 in “Frontiers in Medicine” Proxalutamide significantly lowered hospital admissions for male COVID-19 patients compared to a placebo.
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July 2021 in “Nature Communications” The drug enzalutamide may reduce the ability of the virus causing COVID-19 to enter lung cells.
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March 2021 in “Hormones” COVID-19 may affect male fertility and women might have better outcomes due to hormonal and immune differences.
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July 2019 in “Endocrinology” Certain HSD3B1 gene types are linked to worse prostate cancer outcomes and affect treatment response and other health conditions.
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May 2021 in “Journal of Medical Virology” Men are more likely to have severe respiratory viral infections like COVID-19 due to hormonal and genetic differences, while women generally have stronger immune responses.
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August 2020 in “Frontiers in Immunology” Men generally have more severe COVID-19 cases and higher death rates than women due to biological differences.
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May 2021 in “Dermatologic Therapy” Possible link between androgens and COVID-19 severity; more research needed.
The conclusion is that endocrinology significantly impacts medicine with various common medications used for treatment.
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June 2020 in “Seminars in Oncology” Sex hormones may affect COVID-19 severity, with men often faring worse, and targeting related pathways could offer treatment options.
