Topic: Biological sex

Marcus Altfeld and Molly Ingersoll examine how biological sex influences susceptibility to infection, disease severity and treatment outcomes. The discussion focuses on mucosal immune responses, interferon signalling and their downstream effects. It brings together research at the intersection of sex biology and immunology to distinguish current understanding from unresolved questions and consider implications for infectious-disease research and treatment.

Biological sex, gonadal hormones, and the epigenetic landscape collectively influence pain sensitivity, contributing to sex-based differences in pain perception. Females typically display heightened sensitivity to noxious stimuli, with estradiol's impact on hyperalgesia. Estradiol functions as a hormone released by peripheral steroidogenic organs or as neuroestradiol, locally synthesized in the nervous system by aromatase, which plays a crucial role in regulating neuroestradiol levels in pain circuits. This study investigates the role of neuroestradiol and its epigenetic involvement in the tri