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Effect of Hormones as Cofactors in Food Allergy

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Abstract

Purpose of review

Hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone can contribute to differences in allergy prevalence and severity between men and women by affecting the immune system. This review aims to analyze what is currently known about the role of hormones as cofactors in food allergy.

Recent findings

Studies on rodents indicate immunological differences between males and females, with females generally exhibiting a more robust immune response. Estrogens are associated with enhanced humoral immunity and antibody synthesis, while androgens and progesterone suppress immunity and inflammation. Studies suggest that estrogens can exacerbate a pre-existing bias towards Th2 immune responses associated with atopy.

Summary

The complex relationship between the immune response and hormones significantly influences allergic disease outcomes, contributing to gender differences.

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Data Availability

No data sets were generated or analysed in the current review.

References and Recommended Reading

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Acknowledgements

JB, RM-C, MP, and PM-I are supported through Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), for the Thematic Networks and Cooperative Research Centres: RICORs REI (RD21/0002/0058). RM-C is a recipient of a grant from the Societat Catalana d’Al.lergologia I Immunologia Clínica (SCAIC_2022-2025) “Hormones impact on the development of food anaphylaxis”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Allergy, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Patricia Mir-Ihara MD, Maria-Fernanda González-Matamala MD, Maria Ruano-Zaragoza MD, PhD, David Loli-Ausejo MD, Joan Bartra MD, PhD & Rosa Muñoz-Cano MD, PhD

  2. Clinical & Experimental Respiratory Immunoallergy (IRCE), Institut Investigacions Biomediques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain

    Patricia Mir-Ihara MD, Maria-Fernanda González-Matamala MD, Maria Ruano-Zaragoza MD, PhD, David Loli-Ausejo MD, Lucia Garcia-Garcia MSc, Valeria Tubita PhD, Mariona Pascal PhD, Joan Bartra MD, PhD & Rosa Muñoz-Cano MD, PhD

  3. RICORS Red de Enfermedades Inflamatorias (REI), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

    Patricia Mir-Ihara MD, Mariona Pascal PhD, Joan Bartra MD, PhD & Rosa Muñoz-Cano MD, PhD

  4. Department of Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Valeria Tubita PhD, Mariona Pascal PhD, Maria-Ángeles Martínez-Zamora MD, PhD, Joan Bartra MD, PhD & Rosa Muñoz-Cano MD, PhD

  5. CIBER of Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

    Valeria Tubita PhD

  6. Immunology Department, CDB, Hospital Clinic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Mariona Pascal PhD

  7. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Clinic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Maria-Ángeles Martínez-Zamora MD, PhD

  8. Gynecology, Human Reproduction and Women’s Health, Institut Investigacions Biomediques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain

    Maria-Ángeles Martínez-Zamora MD, PhD

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  1. Patricia Mir-Ihara MD
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  2. Maria-Fernanda González-Matamala MD
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  6. Valeria Tubita PhD
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  8. Maria-Ángeles Martínez-Zamora MD, PhD
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  10. Rosa Muñoz-Cano MD, PhD
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Contributions

PM-I and RM-C wrote the main manuscript. All authors contributed to the literature review and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rosa Muñoz-Cano MD, PhD.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Mir-Ihara, P., González-Matamala, MF., Ruano-Zaragoza, M. et al. Effect of Hormones as Cofactors in Food Allergy. Curr Treat Options Allergy (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40521-024-00359-8

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