The effects of hormones on sex differences in infection: from genes to behavior

Males of many species are more susceptible than females to infections caused by parasites, fungi, bacteria, and viruses. One proximate cause of sex differences in infection is differences in endocrine–immune interactions. Specifically, males may be more susceptible to infection than females because...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews 2000-08, Vol.24 (6), p.627-638
Main Author: Klein, S.L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Androgens
Animals
Bacteria
Biological and medical sciences
Disease
Estrogens
Female
General aspects
Hormones - physiology
Humans
Immunity
Immunopathology
Infection - genetics
Infection - physiopathology
Infection - psychology
Male
Medical sciences
Parasite
Sex Characteristics
Testosterone
Virus
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Summary:Males of many species are more susceptible than females to infections caused by parasites, fungi, bacteria, and viruses. One proximate cause of sex differences in infection is differences in endocrine–immune interactions. Specifically, males may be more susceptible to infection than females because sex steroids, specifically androgens in males and estrogens in females, modulate several aspects of host immunity. It is, however, becoming increasingly more apparent that in addition to affecting host immunity, sex steroid hormones alter genes and behaviors that influence susceptibility and resistance to infection. Thus, males may be more susceptible to infection than females not only because androgens reduce immunocompetence, but because sex steroid hormones affect disease resistance genes and behaviors that make males more susceptible to infection. Consideration of the cumulative effects of sex steroid hormones on susceptibility to infection may serve to clarify current discrepancies in the literature and offer alternative hypotheses to the view that sex steroid hormones only alter susceptibility to infection via changes in host immune function.
ISSN:0149-7634
1873-7528
DOI:10.1016/S0149-7634(00)00027-0