Female Reproductive Hormones, Protective Against COVID-19, Study Says

(Photo: LJNovaScotia)

Since COVID-19 has introduced itself to the whole planet, more and more people are getting infected by the virus. A study published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that more men than women are dying because of the coronavirus. However, according to the authors of the study, it is still unclear why this happens.

The University of Illinois in Chicago's associate professor from the department of psychiatry, Graziano Pinna, Ph.D., demonstrates some of the shreds of evidence that suggests female reproductive hormones may play roles in gender biases that have been observed so far in COVID-19 positive patients.

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According to News Medical Life Sciences, the study's information validates that unembellished COVID-19 indications and mortality succeeding contagion with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) happen more frequently than among men than women, suggesting that female reproductive hormones may play a protective role. In the report, Pinna describes some of the effects of progesterone and estrogen on the immune system that may help prevent severe manifestations and mortality as a result of COVID-19.

Hormones and immune response

In the report, estrogen and progesterone, and progesterone metabolite allopregnanolone play an important role in facilitating inflammatory responses. The report added that progesterone triggers the activation and variation of T-cells and control T-cell receptor signaling. They further that it suppresses cellular cytotoxicity and suggests blocking degranulation through its effects on progesterone-induced blocking factors. The report added that progesterone binds to various immune cells such as natural killer cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. Also, epithelial and endothelial cells located in the airways control cellular signaling and activity in some ways that alleviate the infection.

The study also highlights estrogen because, according to the researchers, estrogens are strong immune regulatory agents. They noted that estrogen controls immune cell responses and promotes anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. They also emphasized in the study that an increase in circulating estrogen concentration impacts the progenitor and mature cells of both the innate and adaptive immune systems.

According to the study, although data are mixed, and the CDC also reports that pregnant women may have a worse course of the virus, the researchers emphasized that only a few studies can evaluate the severity of COVID-19 in the late stage of pregnancy - which have high hormonal activity - and after delivery (low level of hormones). They also added that observational studies have noted that some of the SARS-CoV-2 positive pregnant women with mild or absence of COVID-19 manifestations on admission to obstetrical service heightened symptoms severity in response to the hormonal decrease happened after the childbirth.

Basing on Models

The report highlights the intriguing observers on the SARS-CoV-2 infected muse model, which demonstrates 90% death on males and only 20% on females. They added that when the severity of the diseases was considered, the note that all male models died within 5 days while 50% of females survived. This supports the protective role of female reproductive steroids or hormones against coronavirus 2.

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