Sex, hormones, and lung health

Abstract

Sex plays an essential role as a biological variable in lung health, leading to observed differences in lung disease susceptibility. Some respiratory conditions are more common in women than men, especially after puberty, indicating the influence of ovarian hormones on disease mechanisms. Other conditions display sex disparities that begin in utero and progress throughout the life span. Preclinical and clinical studies have indicated that both sex chromosomes and hormones can influence lung disease outcomes, immune responses, susceptibility to viral and bacterial infection, and responses to environmental challenges. This review summarizes the latest research on how sex affects lung physiology and health, drawing on a wide range of studies in respiratory physiology and anatomy, genetics, molecular and cellular biology, environmental health, and immunity. We emphasize how biological sex, gonadal hormones, and occupational and environmental exposures can impact disease mechanisms and outcomes. As clinical outcomes among women have not improved at the same rate as men over the past few decades, it is crucial to understand the role played by the sex variable in designing strategies to prevent and mitigate disease. The collective research indicates that sex-induced differences in the respiratory system are essential determinants of physiological responses and clinical outcomes.