Statistically, women have a bigger chance of developing certain autoimmune illnesses like MS or lupus. Scientists have a pretty good idea now why this happens.
As it turns out, the female body's immune response is a lot stronger than the immune response in men - possibly because the female body needs a very quick and strong defense mechanism in case it needs to protect a developing foetus. Autoimmune illness occurs when this fast, strong defense mechanism goes haywire, so to speak.
Because of these findings, researchers will have to redesign the way they set up clinical trials in terms of patient cohorts, and in terms of taking into account the gender related differences in immune response.
They are also studying the possibility of giving women smaller dose vaccinations, as this might be all their immune system needs to react.
http://www.nature.com/news/infectio...een-the-sexes-1.20131?WT.mc_id=TWT_NatureNews
This story reminds me of how science used to say that women were more susceptible to autoimmune conditions because of their 'feeble nature'. Consider it officially debunked!
As it turns out, the female body's immune response is a lot stronger than the immune response in men - possibly because the female body needs a very quick and strong defense mechanism in case it needs to protect a developing foetus. Autoimmune illness occurs when this fast, strong defense mechanism goes haywire, so to speak.
Because of these findings, researchers will have to redesign the way they set up clinical trials in terms of patient cohorts, and in terms of taking into account the gender related differences in immune response.
They are also studying the possibility of giving women smaller dose vaccinations, as this might be all their immune system needs to react.
http://www.nature.com/news/infectio...een-the-sexes-1.20131?WT.mc_id=TWT_NatureNews
This story reminds me of how science used to say that women were more susceptible to autoimmune conditions because of their 'feeble nature'. Consider it officially debunked!