H7N9 avian influenza: gender differences in disease progression
Almost 20 years ago, the occurrence of a low pathogenic species for birds was reported for the first time bird flu virus A (H7N9) at people reported. Since then, thousands of people around the world have been infected with this pathogen. Researchers are now reporting that such infections gender differences im course of the disease are.
An international research team has shown for the first time that infection with the avian flu virus H7N9 attacks the hormone axis in men but not in women. And low testosterone levels are associated with the development of a serious or even fatal condition in men. The study results were published in the journal “Nature Communications” released.
More infections in men
As in one Message of the Leibniz Institute for Virology (LIV), avian influenza viruses of the H7N9 subtype (H7N9 bird flu viruses) are characterized by a large epidemic and pandemic potential.
In March 2013, H7N9 avian flu viruses have first species barriers skipped and passed from birds to humans. Men were affected more often than women. In the five epidemic waves that followed, the incidence of H7N9 was higher in men than in women.
To decipher the mechanisms behind these gender-specific differences, an interdisciplinary team from the LIV in Hamburg, the Chinese National Influenza Center of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) and the School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat- sen University data from patients with a laboratory-confirmed H7N9 infection and compared them to H7N9-negative close contacts and people with seasonal flu.
H7N9 infection leads to low testosterone levels
The researchers show that H7N9 infection specifically attacks the hormone axis in men, but not in women. In men, H7N9 infection leads to low testosterone levels, associated with severe and even fatal outcome correlated.
In contrast, seasonal H1N1 or H3N2 influenza had no significant impact on the hormone axis in the patients.
In mouse models, the scientists confirm the causal relationship between H7N9 infection and Testosteronmangel in men. They also show that the H7N9 avian influenza virus replicates in the testicles of mice and causes local and systemic inflammation, likely affecting testosterone production.
Avian influenza viruses continue to require high vigilance
According to the experts, very little is known regarding the molecular mechanisms that lead to gender specific Disease progression in infections with respiratory viruses.
The current study might serve as a blueprint for studying gender differences in others respiratory infections including SARS-CoV-2 as seen in the current pandemic.
“Avian influenza viruses continue to pose a high epidemic and pandemic risk. The 2021/2022 season has been the largest Avian Flu Epidemicrecorded worldwide including Europe”says Prof. Gülşah Gabriel, head of the LIV research unit Viral Zoonoses – One Health and professor at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover.
Therefore, according to the researcher, understanding the molecular mechanismswhich convey the gender-specific course of the disease, are of crucial importance for individual patient management.
“The strict surveillance and massive vaccination of poultry has so far prevented further spread of the H7N9 virus to humans. But avian flu viruses are evolving and require high levels alertness“, said Prof. Yuelong Shu, former director of the China National Influenza Center at the China CDC. (ad)
Author and source information
This text corresponds to the requirements of medical specialist literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been checked by medical professionals.
Sources:
- Leibniz Institute for Virology (LIV): H7N9 bird flu in humans: gender differences in the course of the disease, (accessed: November 16, 2022), Leibniz Institute for Virology (LIV)
- Tian Bai, Yongkun Chen, Sebastian Beck, Stephanie Stanelle-Bertram, Nancy Kouassi Mounogou, Tao Chen, Jie Dong, Bettina Schneider, Tingting Jia, Jing Yang, Lijie Wang, Andreas Meinhardt, Antonia Zapf, Lothar Kreienbrock, Dayan Wang, Yuelong Shu & Gülsah Gabriel: H7N9 avian influenza virus infection in men is associated with testosterone depletion; in: Nature Communications, (veröffentlicht: 14.11.2022), Nature Communications
Important NOTE:
This article contains general advice only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.
