Fetal cell microchimerism and susceptibility to COVID-19 disease in women.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The clinical outcome of COVID-19 disease is worse in males, and the reasons of this gender disparity are currently unclear, though evidences point to a combination of biological and gender-specific factors. A phenomenon unique to the female gender is the fetal cell microchimerism (FCM), defined as the presence of fetal microchimeric cells in maternal organs and in the circulation for years after delivery and usually evaluated by assessing the presence of male cells or DNA in a woman. In the present case-control study, we aimed to evaluate the possible effect of pregnancy and related FCM on the susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and on the clinical course and outcome of COVID-19.

Methods

One hundred twenty-three women with a previous male pregnancy, comprising 63

SUBMITTER: Cirello V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9975871 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature