1
|
Harvey BJ, McElvaney NG. Sex differences in airway disease: estrogen and airway surface liquid dynamics. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:56. [PMID: 39026347 PMCID: PMC11264786 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-024-00633-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Biological sex differences exist for many airway diseases in which females have either worse or better health outcomes. Inflammatory airway diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF) and asthma display a clear male advantage in post-puberty while a female benefit is observed in asthma during the pre-puberty years. The influence of menstrual cycle stage and pregnancy on the frequency and severity of pulmonary exacerbations in CF and asthma point to a role for sex steroid hormones, particularly estrogen, in underpinning biological sex differences in these diseases. There are many ways by which estrogen may aggravate asthma and CF involving disturbances in airway surface liquid (ASL) dynamics, inappropriate hyper-immune and allergenic responses, as well as exacerbation of pathogen virulence. The deleterious effect of estrogen on pulmonary function in CF and asthma contrasts with the female advantage observed in airway diseases characterised by pulmonary edema such as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and COVID-19. Airway surface liquid hypersecretion and alveolar flooding are hallmarks of ARDS and COVID-19, and contribute to the morbidity and mortality of severe forms of these diseases. ASL dynamics encompasses the intrinsic features of the thin lining of fluid covering the airway epithelium which regulate mucociliary clearance (ciliary beat, ASL height, volume, pH, viscosity, mucins, and channel activating proteases) in addition to innate defence mechanisms (pathogen virulence, cytokines, defensins, specialised pro-resolution lipid mediators, and metabolism). Estrogen regulation of ASL dynamics contributing to biological sex differences in CF, asthma and COVID-19 is a major focus of this review.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Harvey
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 126 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland.
- Department of Medicine, RCSI ERC, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 2, Ireland.
| | - Noel G McElvaney
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 126 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Liu J, Ma T, Wang X, Bai W, Wang X. Associations between HT, BMI, and allergic rhinitis in perimenopausal women. ALLERGY, ASTHMA, AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE CANADIAN SOCIETY OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY 2023; 19:107. [PMID: 38115026 PMCID: PMC10729323 DOI: 10.1186/s13223-023-00839-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing evidence suggests that hormone therapy (HT) and obesity exert an influence on allergic rhinitis (AR). It is important to investigate the association and interactions between HT, BMI, and AR in perimenopausal women. METHODS From May 2020 to March 2021, a cross-sectional survey was completed by patients who visited the Allergy Department and Gynecology Department of Shijitan Hospital. The patients completed a questionnaire and stratified analyses by BMI in tertiles were performed. Logistic analyses were performed to evaluate the relationships between HT, BMI, and AR. RESULTS A total of 950 patients completed the study, among which, 393 patients were receiving HT. HT was found to be associated with increased risks for AR (OR = 1.51 [95% CI: 1.151-1.985]), asthma (OR = 3.61 [95% CI: 2.21-5.89]), and their accompanying symptoms (OR = 3.54 [95% CI: 2.146-5.831]). In lean women, the use of HT was significantly associated with a higher risks for AR (OR = 2.26 [95% CI: 1.31-3.91]), the time course of AR (OR = 2.54 [95% CI: 1.37-4.74]), hay fever (OR = 2.54 [95% CI: 1.37-4.74]), and accompanying symptoms (including canker sores, diarrhea, and stomachache) (OR = 2.26 [95% CI: 1.309-3.907]) when compared to normal or heavier weight women (course of AR: pinteraction = 0.032; hay fever; pinteraction = 0.006; accompanying symptoms: pinteraction = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS HT can reduce the risk for AR in perimenopausal women. Lean women who used HT were at a higher risk for AR when compared to overweight women who used AR. There exists an interaction between HT and BMI that influences AR. Furthermore, HT and obesity increase the risk for AR by some common pathways, more follow-up work is needed to explore common pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Liu
- Department of Allergy, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, China
| | - Tingting Ma
- Department of Allergy, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, China
| | - Xiaoxue Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, China
| | - Wenpei Bai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, China.
| | - Xueyan Wang
- Department of Allergy, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Eliyahu E, Katz MG, Vincek A, Freage-Kahn L, Ravvin S, Tal S, Grage H, Shtraizent N, Barak T, Arkush B. Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy on Women's Lung Health and Disease. Pulm Ther 2023; 9:461-477. [PMID: 37815696 PMCID: PMC10721592 DOI: 10.1007/s41030-023-00240-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
This review provides an overview of menopausal hormone therapy and pulmonary disease risk, with a focus on the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on pulmonary function and its relation to lung diseases. This summary is based on authors' knowledge in the field of HRT and supplemented by a PubMed search using the terms "menopause hormone therapy," "asthma", "lung cancer", "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease", "lung function", and "pulmonary hypertension". Available evidence indicates that there is limited research on the role of sex hormones in the susceptibility, severity, and progression of chronic respiratory diseases. However, some studies suggest that the hormonal changes that occur during the menopausal transition may have an impact on pulmonary function and respiratory diseases. Women are in need of convenient access to a safe and effective modality for personalized HRT based on an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven platform that will enable them to receive personalized hormonal treatment through frequent, convenient, and accurate measurements of hormone levels in peripheral blood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Efrat Eliyahu
- Aveta.Life, Hoboken, NJ, USA.
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Ave, Box 1030, New York, NY, 10029-6574, USA.
- Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Michael G Katz
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Ave, Box 1030, New York, NY, 10029-6574, USA
- Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adam Vincek
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Ave, Box 1030, New York, NY, 10029-6574, USA
| | | | - Shana Ravvin
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Ave, Box 1030, New York, NY, 10029-6574, USA
| | - Smadar Tal
- Department of Animal Sciences, Tel-Hai College, Qiryat Shemona, Israel
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Aftabi Y, Amiri-Sadeghan A, Gilani N, Zahedi T, Khodayari MT, Faramarzi E, Seyedrezazadeh E, Ansarin K. Male-biased association of endothelial nitric oxide synthase Asp298Glu substitution ( NOS3-c.894G/T) with asthma risk and severity. J Asthma 2023:1-12. [PMID: 36971059 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2023.2196689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The nitric-oxide pathway plays a crucial role in the pathogeneses of asthma and NOS3-encoded endothelial nitric oxide synthase is one of the main components of the pathway. Variants of NOS3 are known to contribute to asthma development and pathophysiology. METHODS We investigated the association of NOS3-c.894G/T (rs1799983) with asthma risk and severity by studying frequencies of its genotypes and alleles in 555 asthmatics (93 intermittent, 240 mild, 158 moderate, and 64 severe asthma cases) and 351 control participants using the PCR-FRLP method, logistic regression analysis and generalized ordered logit estimates. RESULTS GT genotype (ORadj: 1.39; CI: 1.04-1.85; p = 0.026), dominant model GT + TT (ORadj: 1.41; CI: 1.07-1.87; p = 0.015), and T allele (ORadj: 1.32; CI: 1.05-1.67; p = 0.018) was associated with increased ORs in asthmatics. Also, the frequency of GT + TT (ORadj: 1.55; CI: 1.01-2.38; p = 0.044) was significantly higher in males. Furthermore, GT genotype (ORadj: 1.39; CI: 1.04-1.85; p = 0.024), GT + TT (ORadj: 1.42; CI: 1.07-1.87; p = 0.014), and T allele (ORadj: 1.32; CI: 1.05-1.66; p = 0.018) in total population and GT + TT (ORadj: 1.56; CI: 1.02-2.37; p = 0.04) in males were significantly associated with increased risk of severe, moderate, mild, intermittent asthma vs. controls. Also, GT genotype (ORadj: 1.39; CI: 1.02-1.91; p = 0.039) was significantly more frequent in severe, moderate grades vs. lower severity grades in the total population. Frequencies of GT genotype (ORadj: 1.77; CI: 1.05-3.00; p = 0.032) and GT + TT (ORadj: 1.74; CI: 1.04-2.90; p = 0.036) in total population and GT genotype (ORadj: 2.40; CI: 1.16-4.97; p = 0.018) and GT + TT (ORadj: 2.30; CI: 1.12-4.74; p = 0.023) in male subpopulation were significantly higher in severe cases compared to lower grades. CONCLUSIONS NOS3-c.894G/T may be associated with asthma risk and its severer grades, with greater effects in men.
Collapse
|
5
|
Tibble H, Sheikh A, Tsanas A. Derivation of asthma severity from electronic prescription records using British thoracic society treatment steps. BMC Pulm Med 2022; 22:397. [PMCID: PMC9635147 DOI: 10.1186/s12890-022-02189-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background:
Asthma severity is typically assessed through a retrospective assessment of the treatment required to control symptoms and to prevent exacerbations. The joint British Thoracic Society and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (BTS/SIGN) guidelines encourage a stepwise approach to pharmacotherapy, and as such, current treatment step can be considered as a severity categorisation proxy. Briefly, the steps for adults can be summarised as: no controller therapy (Step 0), low-strength Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS; Step 1), ICS plus Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonist (LABA; Step 2), medium-dose ICS + LABA (Step 3), and finally either an increase in strength or additional therapies (Step 4). This study aimed to investigate how BTS/SIGN Steps can be estimated from across a large cohort using electronic prescription records, and to describe the incidence of each BTS/SIGN Step in a general population.
Methods:
There were 41,433,707 prescriptions, for 671,304 individuals, in the Asthma Learning Health System Scottish cohort, between 1/2009 and 3/2017. Days on which an individual had a prescription for at least one asthma controller (preventer) medication were labelled prescription events. A rule-based algorithm was developed for extracting the strength and volume of medication instructed to be taken daily from free-text data fields. Asthma treatment regimens were categorised by the combination of medications prescribed in the 120 days preceding any prescription event and categorised into BTS/SIGN treatment steps.
Results:
Almost 4.5 million ALHS prescriptions were for asthma controllers. 26% of prescription events had no inhaled corticosteroid prescriptions in the preceding 120 days (Step 0), 16% were assigned to BTS/SIGN Step 1, 7% to Step 2, 21% to Step 3, and 30% to Step 4. The median days spent on a treatment step before a step-down in treatment was 297 days, whereas a step-up only took a median of 134 days.
Conclusion
We developed a reproducible methodology enabling researchers to estimate BTS/SIGN asthma treatment steps in population health studies, providing valuable insights into population and patient-specific trajectories, towards improving the management of asthma.
Collapse
|
6
|
Sodhi A, Pisani M, Glassberg MK, Bourjeily G, D'Ambrosio C. Sex and Gender in Lung Disease and Sleep Disorders: A State-of-the-Art Review. Chest 2022; 162:647-658. [PMID: 35300976 PMCID: PMC9808608 DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2022.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The terms sex and gender often are used interchangeably, but have specific meaning when it comes to their effects on lung disease. Ample evidence is now available that sex and gender affect the incidence, susceptibility, presentation, diagnosis, and severity of many lung diseases. Some conditions are more prevalent in women, such as asthma. Other conditions are seen almost exclusively in women, like lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Some life stages-such as pregnancy-are unique to women and can affect the onset and course of lung disease. Clinical presentation may differ as well, such as higher number of exacerbations experienced by women with COPD and greater cardiovascular morbidity in women with sleep-disordered breathing. In addition, response to therapy and medication safety may also differ by sex, and yet, pharmacogenomic factors often are not addressed adequately in clinical trials. Various aspects of lung and sleep biology and pathobiology are impacted by female sex and female reproductive transitions. Differential gene expression or organ development can be impacted by these biological differences. Understanding these differences is the first step in moving toward precision medicine for women. This article is a state-of-the-art review of specific effects of sex and gender focused on epidemiology, disease presentation, risk factors, and management of lung diseases. Pathobiological mechanisms explaining sex differences in these diseases are beyond the scope of this article. We review the literature and focus on recent guidelines about using sex and gender in research. We also review sex and gender differences in lung diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amik Sodhi
- Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
| | - Margaret Pisani
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Marilyn K Glassberg
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix, Phoenix, AR
| | - Ghada Bourjeily
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI
| | - Carolyn D'Ambrosio
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Baan EJ, de Roos EW, Engelkes M, de Ridder M, Pedersen L, Berencsi K, Prieto-Alhambra D, Lapi F, Van Dyke MK, Rijnbeek P, Brusselle GG, Verhamme KMC. Characterization of Asthma by Age of Onset: A Multi-Database Cohort Study. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. IN PRACTICE 2022; 10:1825-1834.e8. [PMID: 35398554 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2022.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asthma can occur at any age but the differences in patient characteristics between childhood-, adult-, and late-onset asthma are not well understood. OBJECTIVE To investigate differences in patients' characteristics by age at asthma onset. METHODS From 5 European electronic databases, we created a cohort encompassing adult patients with doctor-diagnosed asthma in 2008 to 2013. Patients were categorized based on their age at asthma onset: childhood-onset (age at onset < 18 y), adult-onset (age at onset 18-40 y), and late-onset asthma (age at onset ≥ 40 y). Comorbidities were assessed at study entry. For each characteristic and comorbidity, odds ratios and age- and sex-adjusted odds ratios (ORadj) comparing asthma-onset categories were estimated per database and combined in a meta-analysis using a random effect model. RESULTS In total, 586,436 adult asthma patients were included, 81,691 had childhood-onset, 218,184 adult-onset, and 286,561 late-onset asthma. Overall, 7.3% had severe asthma. Subjects with adult-onset compared with childhood-asthma had higher risks for overweight/obesity (ORadj 1.4; 95% CI 1.1-1.8) and lower risks for atopic disorders (ORadj 0.8; 95% CI 0.7-0.95). Patients with late-onset compared with adult-onset asthma had higher risks for nasal polyposis (ORadj 1.8; 95% CI 1.2-2.6), overweight/obesity (ORadj 1.3; 95% CI 1.2-1.4), gastroesophageal reflux disease (ORadj 1.4; 95% CI 1.2-1.7), and diabetes (ORadj 2.3; 95% CI 1.8-2.9). A significant association between late-onset asthma and uncontrolled asthma was observed (ORadj 2.8; 95% CI 1.7-4.5). CONCLUSIONS This international study demonstrates clear differences in comorbidities between childhood-, adult-, and late-onset asthma phenotypes in adults. Furthermore, patients with late-onset asthma had more frequent uncontrolled asthma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Esmé J Baan
- Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Emmely W de Roos
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marjolein Engelkes
- Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maria de Ridder
- Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lars Pedersen
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Klara Berencsi
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; Musculoskeletal Pharmaco- and Device Epidemiology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Dani Prieto-Alhambra
- Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; GREMPAL Research Group, Idiap Jordi Gol Primary Care Research Institute, CIBERFES ISCIII, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Francesco Lapi
- Health Search, Italian College of General Practitioners and Primary Care, Florence, Italy
| | - Melissa K Van Dyke
- Epidemiology, Value Evidence and Outcomes, Global R&D, GSK, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Peter Rijnbeek
- Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Guy G Brusselle
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Respiratory Medicine, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Katia M C Verhamme
- Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Bioanalysis, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Sex Plays a Multifaceted Role in Asthma Pathogenesis. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12050650. [PMID: 35625578 PMCID: PMC9138801 DOI: 10.3390/biom12050650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex is considered an important risk factor for asthma onset and exacerbation. The prevalence of asthma is higher in boys than in girls during childhood, which shows a reverse trend after puberty—it becomes higher in adult females than in adult males. In addition, asthma severity, characterized by the rate of hospitalization and relapse after discharge from the emergency department, is higher in female patients. Basic research indicates that female sex hormones enhance type 2 adaptive immune responses, and male sex hormones negatively regulate type 2 innate immune responses. However, whether hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women increases the risk of current asthma and asthma onset remains controversial in clinical settings. Recently, sex has also been shown to influence the pathophysiology of asthma in its relationship with genetic or other environmental factors, which modulate asthmatic immune responses in the airway mucosa. In this narrative review, we highlight the role of sex in the continuity of the asthmatic immune response from sensing allergens to Th2 cell activation based on our own data. In addition, we elucidate the interactive role of sex with genetic or environmental factors in asthma exacerbation in women.
Collapse
|
9
|
Zhang GQ, Özuygur Ermis SS, Rådinger M, Bossios A, Kankaanranta H, Nwaru B. Sex Disparities in Asthma Development and Clinical Outcomes: Implications for Treatment Strategies. J Asthma Allergy 2022; 15:231-247. [PMID: 35210789 PMCID: PMC8863331 DOI: 10.2147/jaa.s282667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A gender-related disparity exists in asthma morbidity and mortality, which shifts at around puberty from a male predominance to a female predominance. This is clinically reflected in the fact that asthma that occurs in childhood (childhood-onset asthma) mainly affects boys, and that asthma that occurs in adulthood (adult-onset asthma) mainly affects women. Adult-onset asthma is often non-atopic, more severe, and associated with a poorer prognosis, thus posing a marked burden to women’s health and healthcare system. Many factors have been indicated to explain this gender-related disparity, including sociocultural and environmental factors as well as biological sex differences (genetic, pulmonary and immunological factors). It has long been suggested that sex hormones may be implicated in at least these biological sex differences. Overall, the evidence remains equivocal for the role of most sex hormones in asthma pathogenesis and clinical outcomes. Well-designed randomized clinical trials are required assessing the potential preventive or therapeutic effects of hormonal contraceptives on asthma in women, thereby helping to advance the evidence to inform future practice guidelines. The mechanisms underlying the role of sex hormones in asthma are complex, and our understanding is not yet complete. Additional mechanistic studies elucidating sex hormone signaling pathways and their interactions involved in the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of asthma will help to identify potential sex hormone-driven asthma endotypes and novel therapeutic targets, providing the basis for a more personalized asthma management strategy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guo-Qiang Zhang
- Krefting Research Centre, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Saliha Selin Özuygur Ermis
- Krefting Research Centre, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Madeleine Rådinger
- Krefting Research Centre, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Apostolos Bossios
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hannu Kankaanranta
- Krefting Research Centre, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Seinäjoki Central Hospital, Seinäjoki, Finland
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
| | - Bright Nwaru
- Krefting Research Centre, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Correspondence: Bright Nwaru, Krefting Research Centre, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 424, Gothenburg, SE-405 30, Sweden, Tel +46 076 064 2614, Email
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Role of Sex Hormones at Different Physiobiological Conditions and Therapeutic Potential in MBD2 Mediated Severe Asthma. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:7097797. [PMID: 35096261 PMCID: PMC8799366 DOI: 10.1155/2021/7097797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Sex hormone has become a “hot topic” to evaluate the hormonal therapeutic potential in severe asthma. Th17 cell is one of the main influencing factors involved in the pathogenesis of severe asthma, hence also called as kernel of severe asthma, and Th17 subtype of non-T2 asthma is less responsive (resistance) to inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), so severe in nature. Methyl-CpG binding domain protein 2 (MBD2) is overexpressed and regulates the Th17 differentiation, showing the possibility of therapeutic target in treating Th17 mediated severe asthma. Sex hormone fluctuates at the different physiobiological conditions of the human body and affects the asthma pathobiology showing its role in asthma prevalence, severity, remission, and therapy. This review briefly overviews the sex hormones, their influence in asthma at the different physiobiological conditions of human body, and MBD2 severe asthma connection with the possible therapeutic potential of sex steroids in MBD2 mediated Th17 predominant severe asthma. Male sex hormone tends to show a beneficial effect and possibly downregulates the expression of Th17 cells via regulating MBD2 through a mechanism distinct from corticosteroid treatment and guides us towards discovery of new therapeutic agent, reduces the asthma-related complications, and promotes long-term survival by lowering the risk of therapy-resistant issues of old age severe asthma.
Collapse
|
11
|
Kisiel M, Berglund C, Janson C, Hasselgren M, Montgomery S, Nager A, Sandelowsky H, Ställberg B, Sundh J, Lisspers K. Quality of life and asthma control related to hormonal transitions in women's lives. J Asthma 2021; 59:1869-1877. [PMID: 34353223 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2021.1963768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: The aim was to investigate if menstruation and use of exogenous sex hormones influence self-reported asthma related quality of life (QoL) and asthma control.Methods: The study is based on two asthma cohorts randomly selected in primary and secondary care. A total of 622 female patients 18-65 years were included and classified as premenopausal ≤46 years (n = 338) and peri/postmenopausal 47-65 years (n = 284). Questionnaire data from 2012 and 2014 with demographics, asthma related issues and sex hormone status. Outcome measures were Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (Mini-AQLQ) and asthma control including Asthma Control Test (ACT) and exacerbations last six months.Results: Premenopausal women with menstruation related asthma worsening, perimenstrual asthma (PMA) (9%), had a clinically relevant lower Mini-AQLQ mean score 4.9 vs. 5.8 (p < 0.001), lower asthma control with ACT score <20, 72% vs. 28% (p < 0.001) and higher exacerbation frequency 44% vs. 20% (p = 0.004) compared with women without PMA. Women with irregular menstruation had higher exacerbation frequency than women with regular menstruation (p = 0.023). Hormonal contraceptives had no impact on QoL and asthma control. Peri/postmenopausal women with menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) had a clinically relevant lower Mini-AQLQ mean score compared to those without MHT, 4.9 vs 5.4 (p < 0.001), but no differences in asthma control.Conclusion: Women with PMA had lower QoL and more uncontrolled asthma than women without PMA. Peri/postmenopausal women with MHT had lower QoL than women without MHT. Individual clinical management of women with asthma may benefit from information about their sex hormone status.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Kisiel
- Uppsala University, Department of Medical Sciences, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Christer Janson
- Uppsala Universitet, Department of Medical Sciences, Respiratory, Allergy & Sleep Research, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mikael Hasselgren
- Örebro Universitet, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Orebro, Sweden
| | - Scott Montgomery
- Örebro Universitet, Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medical Sciences, Sweden
| | - Anna Nager
- Karolinska Institutet, NVS, Section for Family Medicine and Primary Care, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hanna Sandelowsky
- Karolinska Institutet, Clinical Epidemiology Division, Department of Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Björn Ställberg
- Uppsala University, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Josefin Sundh
- Örebro Universitet, Department of Respiratory Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Orebro, Sweden
| | - Karin Lisspers
- Uppsala University, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine, Uppsala, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|