Researchers from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and UNSW Sydney discovered more than 1,000 genetic «switches» that behave differently in male and female immune cells. The study, published in The American Journal of Human Genetics, suggests this may explain why women generally have stronger immune responses to infections but are also more vulnerable to autoimmune diseases like lupus (which occurs about nine times more often in women). Interestingly, most of these switches were found on autosomes (non-sex chromosomes), not on the X or Y chromosomes as previously expected. The findings could pave the way for more personalized treatments that target specific genetic pathways rather than broadly suppressing the immune system.
About the Author
