Immune system adaptation during gender-affirming testosterone treatment.

ABSTRACT: Infectious, inflammatory and autoimmune conditions present differently in males and females. SARS-CoV-2 infection in naive males is associated with increased risk of death, whereas females are at increased risk of long COVID¹, similar to observations in other infections². Females respond more strongly to vaccines, and adverse reactions are more frequent³, like most autoimmune diseases⁴. Immunological sex differences stem from genetic, hormonal and behavioural factors⁵ but their relative importance is only partially understood^6-8. In individuals assigned female sex at birth and undergoing gender-affirming testosterone therapy (trans men), hormone concentrations change markedly but the immunological consequences are poorly und

SUBMITTER: Lakshmikanth T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11374716 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature