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Gender Specific Differences in the Immune Response to Infection

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  • Published:
Archivum Immunologiae et Therapiae Experimentalis Aims and scope

Abstract

There are many instances where males and females differ in the susceptibility to infections. The reason for these differences in susceptibility is multifactorial. The primary cause is thought to be due to differences induced by sex hormones and their effects on gene expression as well as the immune system, but may also be due to innate physiological differences between males and females. This review summarizes gender specific differences seen in infections caused by bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses. Ultimately, gender specific differences appear to be dependent on the microbe causing the infection, as not every infection with a specific microbial type results in increased susceptibility of one gender over the other. This suggests that there is an interaction between gender specific immune differences and the specific immune response to individual microbes.

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Abbreviations

IFN-γ:

Interferon γ

IL-4:

Interleukin-4

TNF-α:

Tumor necrosis factor α

TH1:

T helper 1

DES:

Diethylstilbestrol

LTA:

Lipotechoic acid

LPS:

Lipopolysaccharide

AIDS:

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome

HIV:

Human immunodeficiency virus

RSV:

Respiratory syncytial virus

HSV-2:

Herpes simplex virus-2

CMV:

Cytomegalovirus

CD38:

Cluster of differentiation 38

TLR7:

Toll-like receptor 7

CCR5:

C-C chemokine receptor type 5

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  1. Department of Basic Sciences, The Commonwealth Medical College, 501 Madison Avenue, Scranton, PA, 18510, USA

    Erin E. McClelland & Jennifer M. Smith

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  1. Erin E. McClelland
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  2. Jennifer M. Smith
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Correspondence to Erin E. McClelland.

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McClelland, E.E., Smith, J.M. Gender Specific Differences in the Immune Response to Infection. Arch. Immunol. Ther. Exp. 59, 203–213 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00005-011-0124-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00005-011-0124-3

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