Autoimmune disease and gender: Plausible mechanisms for the female predominance of autoimmunity

Olga L. Quintero, Manuel J. Amador-Patarroyo, Gladys Montoya-Ortiz, Adriana Rojas-Villarraga, Juan Manuel Anaya

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

230 Scopus citations

Abstract

A large number of autoimmune diseases (ADs) are more prevalent in women. The more frequent the AD and the later it appears, the more women are affected. Many ideas mainly based on hormonal and genetic factors that influence the autoimmune systems of females and males differently, have been proposed to explain this predominance. These hypotheses have gained credence mostly because many of these diseases appear or fluctuate when there are hormonal changes such as in late adolescence and pregnancy. Differences in X chromosome characteristics between men and women with an AD have led researchers to think that the genetic background of this group of diseases also relates to the genetic determinants of gender. These hormonal changes as well as the genetic factors that could explain why women are more prone to develop ADs are herein reviewed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)J109-J119
JournalJournal of Autoimmunity
Volume38
Issue number2-3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Autoimmune disease and gender: Plausible mechanisms for the female predominance of autoimmunity'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this