Acute respiratory viral infections, which we simply call a cold, at first glance have the same symptoms. But you may have noticed that different people suffer from the same disease differently, even within the same family – one person can endure the disease “on their feet” with mild symptoms, while another lies in bed with a high temperature. Different factors influence how a person endures the disease. According to many studies, one of these factors is gender. According to scientists, men endure the disease the worst. Moreover, this may apply not only to colds, but also to other diseases. However, until recently, the exact reason for this was not known.
Scientists have found out why men and women get sick differently. Photo source: grodno.1prof.by
Men and women have different immune systems
Male and female organisms differ not only in muscle mass, but also have a number of other differences. For example, this concerns water content, distribution of fat tissue and even reactions to the same substances. For example, some medications act much longer in the female organism than in the male one. This means that women require a reduced dosage.
It has also long been known that men and women have different immune systems. Women have a stronger immune system. For this reason, women usually tolerate illnesses more easily. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists noticed that women tolerate the acute phase of coronavirus more easily, but at the same time they are more likely to experience long-term consequences. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to die from pneumonia. The same applies to the flu.
Men are more susceptible to colds, flu and other illnesses. Photo source: toistudent.timesofindia.indiatimes.com
In addition, the male body gives a more pronounced immune response. Therefore, men experience more severe pain than women. But you should not think that men are unlucky with their immune system, since a strong immune system can be both beneficial and harmful. Sometimes the immune system turns against women and causes autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, etc. Men suffer from these diseases much less often.
Thus, women and men really do get sick differently, and this has been known for a long time. However, only recently has it been possible to find out the reason, because there are many factors that can affect the functioning of the immune system – from banal lack of sleep to genetics.
Why do men and women have different immune systems?
One of the differences between male and female organisms are sex hormones. It is known that they affect the immune system, but genes are also of great importance. However, it turned out to be quite difficult to isolate the direct influence of our genetics, hormones and behavior on our immune system. Therefore, until recently, it was not exactly known what exactly the difference in female and male immunity depends on.
The immune system depends on many factors, but hormones and genes play the most important role. Source: medpublishing.ru
Now scientists from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and Imperial College London have managed to find out. The authors involved 23 men undergoing hormone therapy in their study. As a result, they were able to isolate elements of the immune system that are regulated exclusively by sex hormones. They also found elements of immunity that are embedded in genetics.
As the authors of the study report in the journal Nature, elevated levels of testosterone (the male hormone) and reduced levels of estrogen alter the balance between two key immune signaling systems. These systems directly influence how the immune system responds to infections and diseases. These are the antiviral interferon type 1 (IFN-1) and pro-inflammatory signals such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α).
Simply put, it is the hormone levels in the body, not genetics, that are crucial to immunity. They determine the differences in the risk of infections, autoimmune diseases, and even cancer between men and women (theoretically, the immune system can effectively fight cancer). According to the authors of the study, the knowledge gained not only influences the understanding of how the same diseases affect men and women, but will also allow the development of new, more effective methods of treating autoimmune diseases and cancer.
Knowing how immunity works, scientists will be able to develop new methods of treating many diseases. Photo source: aksi-shifo.tj
Perhaps, regulating hormones can help in an emergency to avoid certain consequences of dangerous diseases, for example, with lupus, when the immune system begins to attack and destroy its own body. Perhaps, increasing the level of testosterone in the body will help stop this process. Therefore, as the researchers themselves say, their further work will be aimed at developing new methods of therapy.
Be sure to visit our Zen and Telegram channels, here you will find the most interesting news from the world of science and the latest discoveries!
Now the only question that remains unanswered is why, from an evolutionary point of view, men have worse immunity than women? According to some scientists, this is due to men's craving for risk. For thousands of years, men have been dying while hunting, in wars, fights, or simply because of risky behavior. Perhaps evolution “decided” that there is no point in protecting men from diseases, since there is not much chance of living to old age with such behavior.