Washington, May 10 (SANA) Women may have a stronger genetic predisposition to autoimmune diseases than men due to differences in how immune cells function, according to a new study published in The American Journal of Human Genetics.
The research identified more than 1,000 genetic regulatory mechanisms that operate differently in male and female immune cells.
Scientists analyzed more than 1.25 million immune cells collected from nearly 1,000 healthy participants in Australia, using single-cell sequencing technology to examine immune gene activity in unprecedented detail.
Researchers from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and UNSW Sydney found that inflammatory pathways were significantly more active in female immune cells, a finding that may help explain why women are diagnosed with autoimmune diseases such as lupus, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis at much higher rates than men.
The study also found higher levels of B cells and T cells in women — immune cells closely linked to antibody production and immune regulation.
By contrast, male immune cells showed stronger activity related to cellular maintenance and protein production, along with increased levels of monocytes, which play a major role in frontline immune defense.
Lead researcher Dr. Seyhan Yazar said the findings highlight the importance of considering biological sex differences in medical research and treatment development.
She added that the results could help advance precision medicine approaches and contribute to the development of more personalized treatments for autoimmune diseases in the future.
R.H/Abd
