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PMID: 18728636 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Review

The X-files in immunity: sex-based differences predispose immune responses.

Nature reviews. Immunology ·Vol. 8 ·No. 9 ·2008-09-00 ·Pages 737-44

Fish EN

Abstract

Despite accumulating evidence in support of sex-based differences in innate and adaptive immune responses, in the susceptibility to infectious diseases and in the prevalence of autoimmune diseases, health research and clinical practice do not address these distinctions, and most research studies of immune responses do not stratify by sex. X-linked genes, hormones and societal context are among the many factors that contribute to disparate immune responses in males and females. It is crucial to address sex-based differences in disease pathogenesis and in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of therapeutic medications to provide optimal disease management for both sexes.

MeSH Terms
Animals Disease Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics Hormones/immunology Humans Immunity/immunology Sex Characteristics X Chromosome/genetics,immunology
Chemicals
Hormones
Authors & Affiliations
1 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Fish Eleanor N
Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Women's College Research Institute, Ontario, Canada. en.fish@utoronto.ca
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Article Info
Journal
Nature reviews. Immunology
Abbr.
Nat Rev Immunol
ISSN
1474-1733
Published
2008-09-00
Pages
737-44
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
101124169
PMCID
PMC7097214
Subset
IM
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