Asthma Differences Between Men and Women
- A new study sheds light on how asthma behaves differently in males and females, both in symptoms and at the level of gene expression.
- "Asthma is incredibly heterogeneous," says Shannon Kay,an assistant professor in the Yale Section of Pulmonary,Critical Care,and Sleep Medicine (Yale PCCSM),and the study's first author.
- "It starts at different times, presents with different symptoms, and responds differently to treatment.
Biological Differences in Asthma Between Males and Females
Table of Contents
Understanding Asthma’s Sex-Specific Nature
A new study sheds light on how asthma behaves differently in males and females, both in symptoms and at the level of gene expression. The results appear in the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology.
“Asthma is incredibly heterogeneous,” says Shannon Kay,an assistant professor in the Yale Section of Pulmonary,Critical Care,and Sleep Medicine (Yale PCCSM),and the study’s first author.
“It starts at different times, presents with different symptoms, and responds differently to treatment. What really stood out to me in clinical training was how differently it affected males and females.”
Gene Expression Differences identified
To explore this disparity, Kay and her team analyzed gene expression data from more than 6,000 samples across public databases and conducted a meta-analysis focused on blood-based immune cells. Their study identified 61 genes that were differentially expressed by sex in adults with asthma. Many of these genes were associated with key immune pathways-including those involving eosinophils, lymphocytes, and type 2 inflammation.
To detect subtle biological differences, the team pooled asthma gene expression data from more than 3,500 individuals and validated key findings in a local Yale cohort, where sex-biased genes aligned with asthma traits such as lung function and symptom severity.
Age and Tissue-Specific Variations
The researchers found that gene expression differences aren’t just present between males and females-they also change with age and tissue type.They also found that different patterns emerged in children.
Implications for Treatment and Future Research
Key Genes and Immune Pathways
The identified genes are largely involved in immune responses, suggesting that the immune system plays a significant role in the sex-specific differences observed in asthma. Here’s a breakdown of some key pathways: