Considering how biological sex impacts immune responses and COVID-19 outcomes

Eileen P. Scully; Jenna Haverfield; Rebecca L. Ursin; Cara Tannenbaum; Sabra L. Klein

doi:10.1038/s41577-020-0348-8

Considering how biological sex impacts immune responses and COVID-19 outcomes

Eileen P. Scully, Jenna Haverfield, Rebecca L. Ursin, Cara Tannenbaum, Sabra L. Klein

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

126 Scopus citations

Abstract

A male bias in mortality has emerged in the COVID-19 pandemic, which is consistent with the pathogenesis of other viral infections. Biological sex differences may manifest themselves in susceptibility to infection, early pathogenesis, innate viral control, adaptive immune responses or the balance of inflammation and tissue repair in the resolution of infection. We discuss available sex-disaggregated epidemiological data from the COVID-19 pandemic, introduce sex-differential features of immunity and highlight potential sex differences underlying COVID-19 severity. We propose that sex differences in immunopathogenesis will inform mechanisms of COVID-19, identify points for therapeutic intervention and improve vaccine design and increase vaccine efficacy.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	442-447
Number of pages	6
Journal	Nature Reviews Immunology
Volume	20
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41577-020-0348-8
State	Published - Jul 1 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Immunology and Allergy
Immunology

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abstract = "A male bias in mortality has emerged in the COVID-19 pandemic, which is consistent with the pathogenesis of other viral infections. Biological sex differences may manifest themselves in susceptibility to infection, early pathogenesis, innate viral control, adaptive immune responses or the balance of inflammation and tissue repair in the resolution of infection. We discuss available sex-disaggregated epidemiological data from the COVID-19 pandemic, introduce sex-differential features of immunity and highlight potential sex differences underlying COVID-19 severity. We propose that sex differences in immunopathogenesis will inform mechanisms of COVID-19, identify points for therapeutic intervention and improve vaccine design and increase vaccine efficacy.",

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Considering how biological sex impacts immune responses and COVID-19 outcomes

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