Scientists have explained why women tolerate many infections more easily than men.
Experts have found that it is all about genetic differences between the sexes.
The female body resists infections better due to the high activity of the KDM6A gene, copies of which are located on the “female” X chromosomes.
The researchers' discovery has opened up opportunities for improving treatment methods that will focus on this feature, TASS reports.
The KDM6A gene is involved in the production of the UTX protein, which affects the structure of the protein coat of DNA. It controls other genes that are likely related to cell metabolism.
Both men and women have NK cells. The stronger sex has more of them.
However, a new discovery by scientists suggests that the activity of the KDM6A gene is significantly higher in female NK cells. Therefore, women cope with infections better than men.
Scientists conducted an experiment that confirmed the theory. The activity of this gene was artificially reduced in female mice. As a result, they acquired the same vulnerability to infections as males.
Another interesting point: the concentration of male and female sex hormones did not affect the activity of UTX in mouse lymphocytes. Therefore, the scientists concluded that the nature of the differences is genetic.
