The X-files in immunity: sex-based differences predispose immune responses

• Published in: Nature reviews. Immunology Vol. 8; no. 9; pp. 737 - 744
• Main Author: Fish, Eleanor N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.09.2008; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Animals; Autoimmune diseases; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Care and treatment; Clinical trials; Communicable diseases; Disease; Females; Gender differences; Genetic aspects; Genetic Predisposition to Disease - genetics; Health aspects; Hormones; Hormones - immunology; Humans; Immune response; Immunity - immunology; Immunoglobulins; Immunology; Infectious diseases; Kinases; Males; Multiple sclerosis; Pharmacokinetics; Prescription drugs; Prevention; Proteins; science-and-society; Sex (Biology); Sex Characteristics; Sexes; Sexually transmitted diseases; STD; Transcription factors; Viral infections; Womens health; X Chromosome - genetics; X Chromosome - immunology; X chromosomes; Canada
• ISSN: 1474-1733; 1474-1741
• DOI: 10.1038/nri2394

Sex-based differences in immune responses can influence the susceptibility to autoimmune and infectious diseases and the efficacy of therapeutic drugs. In this Perspective, Eleanor Fish discusses factors, such as X-linked genes, hormones and societal context, that underlie disparate immune responses in men and women. Despite accumulating evidence in support of sex-based differences in innate and adaptive immune responses, in the susceptibility to infectious diseases and in the prevalence of autoimmune diseases, health research and clinical practice do not address these distinctions, and most research studies of immune responses do not stratify by sex. X-linked genes, hormones and societal context are among the many factors that contribute to disparate immune responses in males and females. It is crucial to address sex-based differences in disease pathogenesis and in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of therapeutic medications to provide optimal disease management for both sexes.