Review
Neurosciences
Elizabeth J. Andrews, Alessandra C. Martini, Elizabeth Head
Summary: This study investigates the sex-specific effects on the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the Down syndrome (DS) population and explores potential underlying mechanisms. It reveals that women are more susceptible to AD and suggests that the earlier onset of menopause in women with DS may contribute to this vulnerability.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Alfred T. Harding, Nicholas S. Heaton
Summary: Microbial infections have a significant impact on human health, and the host immune response plays a crucial role in determining the outcome. It is now widely accepted that estrogens can dramatically alter the response of host cells to microbes. Understanding how estrogens change the host immune response is important for effective treatment of infected individuals.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Jelena Dukic, Ulrike Ehlert
Summary: This study aimed to establish an overview of sex steroid secretion patterns during the peripartum and understand their contribution to maternal and fetal pathologies. The findings revealed a progressive increase in sex steroids levels during pregnancy, but with wide variations in measurement results. The current knowledge on the association between sex steroids and pathologies is mainly based on correlational studies, and causality remains unclear.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Donghui Zhu, Axel Montagne, Zhen Zhao
Summary: AD is a neurodegenerative disease, with studies showing gender differences in risk and progression. The higher risk and progression of AD in women are largely attributed to distinct biological mechanisms, such as deviations in brain structure and biomarkers, psychosocial stress responses, genetic background, and more.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Jiahui Liu, Zhe Liu, Weixia Sun, Ling Luo, Xingna An, Dehai Yu, Wanning Wang
Summary: Diabetic nephropathy is a common complication in diabetes, and current treatments mainly focus on glucose and blood pressure control. However, new drugs targeting the pathological mechanisms of DN have emerged, and there is growing attention on therapeutic strategies targeting these mechanisms. Sex hormones, such as testosterone and estrogen, are believed to play important roles in the onset and progression of DN, but the underlying molecular mechanism is not fully understood. This review aims to summarize the correlation between sex hormones and DN and evaluate the potential value of hormonotherapy in DN.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yinliang Guo, Jia-Tian Lu, Runting Fang, Yang Jiao, Jiaqi Liu, Tuoping Luo
Summary: Veratrum alkaloids are highly complex steroidal alkaloids with intricate structural and stereochemical features, exhibiting diverse pharmacological activities. A new synthetic pathway has been developed to access this natural product family, leading to the first total synthesis of (-)-zygadenine. Key steps in this synthetic route include a stereoselective intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction and a radical cyclization, followed by a meticulously designed sequence of redox manipulations to achieve the de novo synthesis of this highly oxidized Veratrum alkaloid.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Victoria Peer, Khitam Muhsen, Moshe Betser, Manfred S. Green
Summary: Pregnant women have lower immune response to pertussis vaccination compared to non-pregnant women, possibly due to higher levels of hormones during pregnancy. Sex hormones during pregnancy, such as progesterone and estrogen, are negatively associated with anti-pertussis toxin antibody levels.
Article
Psychiatry
Megan Wiseman, Meagan Hinks, Darcy Hallett, Jacqueline Blundell, Ellen Sweeney, Christina M. Thorpe, Susan G. Walling, Ashlyn Swift-Gallant
Summary: Females are twice as likely as males to receive a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Findings from the study suggest that ovarian hormones contribute to the increased risk of PTSD in females, while lifestyle factors do not play a role in the risk of PTSD diagnosis.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dorota Katarzynska-Banasik, Malgorzata Grzesiak, Kinga Kowalik, Andrzej Sechman
Summary: The study found that silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) can impact chicken ovarian steroidogenesis, depending on exposure time, follicle type, and development stage, potentially leading to changes in selection processes. Additionally, AgNPs may affect thyroid hormone metabolism through different sizes, which could influence energy homeostasis in target cells.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Marina Averyanova, Polina Vishnyakova, Svetlana Yureneva, Oksana Yakushevskaya, Timur Fatkhudinov, Andrey Elchaninov, Gennady Sukhikh
Summary: This article explores the effects of sex hormones and menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) on the immune system in COVID-19 infections, discussing their regulatory mechanisms and impact on disease outcomes. The complex relationship between sex hormones and immune function, as well as the important role MHT plays in enhancing antiviral resistance and attenuating inflammatory responses, are highlighted.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Marianna Minnetti, Dario De Alcubierre, Ilaria Bonaventura, Riccardo Pofi, Valeria Hasenmajer, Maria Grazia Tarsitano, Daniele Gianfrilli, Eleonora Poggiogalle, Andrea M. Isidori
Summary: Licorice consumption can affect the reproductive system. However, its role needs to be further explored, especially due to the great variability of bioactive compounds used in existing studies.
Review
Virology
Sabitha Vadakedath, Venkataramana Kandi, Ranjan K. Mohapatra, Venkata B. K. Pinnelli, Richa R. Yegurla, Praveen R. Shahapur, Vikram Godishala, Senthilkumar Natesan, Kranti S. Vora, Khan Sharun, Ruchi Tiwari, Muhammad Bilal, Kuldeep Dhama
Summary: The human immune system is not well-equipped to eliminate new microbes, leading to serious damage upon first exposure. Male patients are more likely to experience high-intensity inflammation and disease severity compared to females, potentially due to hormonal differences.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Suriya Rehman, Vijaya Ravinayagam, Insha Nahvi, Hanan Aldossary, Maha Al-Shammari, Mai Saad Al Amiri, Uday Kishore, Ebtesam A. A. Al-Suhaimi
Summary: This study discusses the significant impact of gender on morbidity and mortality of COVID-19, with factors such as innate immune response, estrogen, and microbiota potentially contributing to gender differences. It also highlights certain factors that give women greater resistance to SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease progression.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Marzia Pezzolato, Elena Biasibetti, Marilena Gili, Cristiana Maurella, Alessandro Benedetto, Marianna Marturella, Federica Ostorero, Giancarlo Bozzo, Claudio Bellino, Antonio D'angelo, Flaminia Valentini, Francesca Roberti, Maurizio Fiori, Paolo Stacchini, Elena Bozzetta
Summary: The aim of this study was to verify if veal calves housed under controlled conditions still have physiological levels of natural steroid hormones and if this affects the normal histological pattern of growth promoters in target organs.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Megan C. Hansel, Hannah R. Murphy, Jessica Brunner, Christina Wang, Richard K. Miller, Thomas G. O'Connor, Emily S. Barrett, Zorimar Rivera-Nunez
Summary: The study found that neighborhood stressors were associated with higher levels of maternal testosterone, which may have implications for maternal and child health.
BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Claes Ohlsson, Lina Lawenius, Annica Andersson, Karin Gustafsson, Jianyao Wu, Marie Lagerquist, Sofia Moverare-Skrtic, Ulrika Islander, Klara Sjogren
Summary: The probiotic mixture L. mix has shown to protect against bone loss induced by ovariectomy in mice and postmenopausal women. The treatment initiated after ovariectomy demonstrates a mild stimulatory effect on trabecular and cortical bone width, potentially through effects on regulatory T-cells.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM
(2021)
Article
Rheumatology
Jauquline Nordqvist, Cecilia Engdahl, Julia M. Scheffler, Priti Gupta, Karin L. Gustafsson, Marie K. Lagerquist, Hans Carlsten, Ulrika Islander
Summary: This study investigates the potential effects of tissue-selective estrogen complex (TSEC) in the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The results show that treatment with medium dose TSEC administered in the early stages of the disease can protect ovariectomized mice from bone loss, with no differences in SLE disease parameters.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Riku Kawasaki, Kosuke Kondo, Risako Miura, Keita Yamana, Hinata Isozaki, Risako Shimada, Shogo Kawamura, Hidetoshi Hirano, Tomoki Nishimura, Naoki Tarutani, Kiyofumi Katagiri, Alexandra Stubelius, Shin-ichi Sawada, Yoshihiro Sasaki, Kazunari Akiyoshi, Atsushi Ikeda
Summary: In this study, a theranostic agent based on a hybrid nanoparticle comprising fullerene nanocrystals and gold nanoparticles was developed for cancer diagnosis and therapy. The nanoparticle exhibited stronger photoacoustic signals and photothermal heating characteristics, and showed promise for killing cancer cells and visualizing tumor tissue in vivo.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Karin L. Gustafsson, Sofia Moverare-Skrtic, Helen H. Farman, Cecilia Engdahl, Petra Henning, Karin H. Nilsson, Julia M. Scheffler, Edina Sehic, Ulrika Islander, Ellis Levin, Claes Ohlsson, Marie K. Lagerquist
Summary: Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) act on estrogen receptors (ERs) in a tissue-specific manner, exerting effects through nuclear actions and membrane-initiated signaling pathways. This study demonstrates that membrane-initiated ER alpha (mER alpha) signaling modulates the tissue-specific responses of SERMs.
JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ula von Mentzer, Carmen Corciulo, Alexandra Stubelius
Summary: Articular joint defects are becoming more prevalent due to rising obesity rates and an aging population. Joint replacement is often the last resort for patients with cartilage erosion, and researchers are exploring novel strategies to promote regeneration and healing. The use of decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) biomaterials shows promise in reducing foreign body responses and enhancing tissue regeneration.
MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Orthopedics
U. von Mentzer, T. Sellden, L. Raberg, G. Erensoy, A-K Hultgard Ekwall, A. Stubelius
Summary: This study evaluates the effects of protein coronas derived from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patient synovial fluids, as well as fetal calf serum, on the uptake of nanoparticles into joint cartilage, chondrocytes, and monocytes. The results demonstrate that protein coronas significantly impact nanoparticle uptake in cartilage tissue and affect the uptake in chondrocytes and monocytes. This emphasizes the importance of considering the biological microenvironment for successful translation of drug delivery vehicles into clinics.
OSTEOARTHRITIS AND CARTILAGE
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Carmen Corciulo, Julia M. Scheffler, Piotr Humeniuk, Alicia Del Carpio Pons, Alexandra Stubelius, Ula Von Mentzer, Christina Drevinge, Aidan Barrett, Sofia Wuestenhagen, Matti Poutanen, Claes Ohlsson, Marie K. Lagerquist, Ulrika Islander
Summary: This study investigated the effect of deficiency of female sex steroids on the progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA) and evaluated the protective role of treatment with a physiological dose of 17 beta-estradiol (E2). The findings demonstrate that E2 treatment can alleviate OA symptoms and protect against bone loss in postmenopausal women with OA.
JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Aidan Barrett, Piotr Humeniuk, Christina Drevinge, Carmen Corciulo, Julie Weidner, Madeleine Radinger, Hans Carlsten, Julia M. Scheffler, Ulrika Islander
Summary: Compared to men, women have a higher prevalence of adult-onset asthma, and previous studies have shown that testosterone inhibits while estrogen worsens allergen-induced airway inflammation. However, the exact effects of estrogen on immune responses in asthma are not well understood. Clarifying the impact of physiological levels of estrogen on immune responses would help in developing improved treatment strategies.
Article
Immunology
Piotr Humeniuk, Aidan Barrett, Hannes Axelsson, Carmen Corciulo, Christina Drevinge, Alicia Del Carpio Pons, Davide Angeletti, Julia M. Scheffler, Ulrika Islander
Summary: This study aimed to determine the immunological mechanisms that contribute to increased disease severity in female mice during influenza A virus (IAV) infection. The results revealed that female mice were more severely affected and had a higher mortality rate compared to males, with larger increases in both innate and adaptive immune cell populations and cytokine production in the lung. Furthermore, it was the first study to report a sex bias in iNKT cell populations after IAV infection.
IMMUNITY INFLAMMATION AND DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
C. Drevinge, J. M. Scheffler, J. Nordqvist, C. Engdahl, H. Carlsten, U. Islander
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chloe Pasin, Camila R. Consiglio, Jana S. Huisman, Ann-Marie G. de Lange, Hannah Peckham, Enriqueta Vallejo-Yaguee, Irene A. Abela, Ulrika Islander, Nadia Neuner-Jehle, Maria Pujantell, Olivia Roth, Melanie Schirmer, Burcu Tepekule, Marius Zeeb, Anna Hachfeld, Karoline Aebi-Popp, Roger D. Kouyos, Sebastian Bonhoeffer
Summary: Although sex and gender play important roles in health and immunity, they are seldom considered in clinical practice and public health. We have identified six bottlenecks that hinder the inclusion of sex and gender considerations from basic science to clinical practice, precision medicine, and public health policies. Guidelines are provided for researchers, scientific journals, funding agencies, and academic institutions to address these bottlenecks.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Marie K. Lagerquist, Priti Gupta, Edina Sehic, Karin L. Horkeby, Julia M. Scheffler, Jauquline Nordqvist, Lina Lawenius, Ulrika Islander, Carmen Corciulo, Petra Henning, Hans Carlsten, Cecilia Engdahl
Summary: Reduction of mature B cells and immunoglobulins increases trabecular bone mass and decreases osteoclasts and bone resorption, but does not prevent bone loss caused by other factors.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Julia M. Scheffler, Karin L. Gustafsson, Aidan Barrett, Carmen Corciulo, Christina Drevinge, Alicia M. Del Carpio Pons, Piotr Humeniuk, Cecilia Engdahl, Jan-Ake Gustafsson, Claes Ohlsson, Hans Carlsten, Marie K. Lagerquist, Ulrika Islander
Summary: This study reveals the importance of ER alpha signaling in CAR cells for bone health and provides insights into the effects of hormones on the immune system and bone density.
