A landmark study reveals distinct immune responses to COVID-19 between men and women, with women's potentially more robust—potentially explaining men's higher risk of severe illness.
Yale University immunologist Professor Akiko Iwasaki highlights key differences in how men and women combat SARS-CoV-2. Published in Nature on August 26, 2020, the research suggests men's heightened vulnerability to severe disease stems from varied immune profiles.
Women showed a more potent T-cell response, crucial for adaptive immunity, even in older participants. Men, however, produced higher overall levels of cytokines early in infection. Prior studies link excessive cytokines to "cytokine storms" and critical illness.
Per Professor Iwasaki, men's weaker T-cell activation, which declines further with age, worsens outcomes. Among women, elevated cytokines predicted deterioration. These findings advocate gender-tailored treatments: enhancing T-cells via vaccines for men, curbing cytokines for women.
The study involved a modest cohort of 17 men and 22 women, excluding ICU patients or those on immunomodulatory therapies, plus 59 others for comparison.
With an average age of 60, variables like age or BMI may influence results, notes University of Edinburgh immunologist Eleanor Riley via Science Media Center. Many individuals showed overlapping responses regardless of gender.
Riley advocates personalized treatments over blanket gender-based approaches.
