title: Are there reasons why adult asthma is more common in females?
abstract: Many epidemiological studies suggest that women are at increased risk of developing adult-onset asthma and also suffer from more severe disease than men. These gender differences appear to be the product of biological sex differences as well as sociocultural and environmental differences. The biological sex differences include genetic, pulmonary, and immunological factors. There is compelling evidence that sex hormones are major determinants of at least these biological sex differences. This paper explores the current literature regarding effects of sex hormones on immune function, resident lung cells, and regulation of local processes in the lung to shed light on underlying mechanisms of gender differences in asthma. More research is needed to understand these mechanisms in order to improve treatment of women with asthma.
authors: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, NW 628 MUH, 3459 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. BNMelgert@mac.com
authors: Barbro N
authors: BN
authors: Melgert
authors: Anuradha
authors: A
authors: Ray
authors: Machteld N
authors: MN
authors: Hylkema
authors: Wim
authors: W
authors: Timens
authors: Dirkje S
authors: DS
authors: Postma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones