Estradiol, Progesterone, Immunomodulation, and COVID-19 Outcomes.

ABSTRACT: Severe outcomes and death from the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) appear to be characterized by an exaggerated immune response with hypercytokinemia leading to inflammatory infiltration of the lungs and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes is consistently lower in women than men worldwide, suggesting that female biological sex is instrumental in protection. This mini-review discusses the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory actions of high physiological concentrations of the steroids 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4). We review how E2 and P4 favor a state of decreased innate immune inflammatory response while enhancing immune tolerance and antibody production. We discuss how the combination of E2 and P4 may improve the immune dysregulati

SUBMITTER: Mauvais-Jarvis F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7438701 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature