Male sex hormones may protect lungs from asthma by boosting nerve connections
The differences in male and female sex hormones are most evident during growth, puberty and reproduction, when they help shape how the body develops and functions. Beyond their more visible effects, these chemical messengers can also influence how certain diseases develop and progress. One such potential example is asthma, a chronic respiratory disease that often begins in childhood. Although it…
A recent study published in Science Immunology has explored the possible protection that male sex hormones may offer against asthma by enhancing nerve connections in the lungs. The research found that young male mice were less susceptible to allergic lung inflammation caused by house dust mite allergens compared to female mice, due to the strengthening of the sympathetic nerve supply to the lungs.
This connection, known as the endocrine–neuroimmune axis, involves the endocrine, nervous, and immune systems working together to regulate lung immunity. Male sex hormones, specifically androgens, dampened allergy-triggered inflammation by increasing the release of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, which suppressed type 2 pulmonary inflammation.
The researchers concluded that understanding the interplay between hormones, the immune system, and the nerves in the lungs may provide insights into the changing course of asthma depending on a person's sex and potentially lead to new treatment strategies.
Written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
