NEW evidence has further confirmed that man flu is a real phenomenon and the
virus hits men harder than women.
Previously studies found that women have higher pain and illness thresholds
than men but new evidence has further confirmed the existence of man flu.
Researchers from the Johns Hopkins University revealed that the sex hormone
oestrogen has antiviral effects against the influenza virus A.
The team found that oestrogen protects females from more violent symptoms
experienced when someone is infected with the virus.
Lead study author Dr Sabra Klein said: “We see clinical potential in the
finding that therapeutic oestrogens that are used for treating infertility
and menopause may also protect against the flu.”
Previous research has found that oestrogen can help fight HIV, Ebola and
hepatitis viruses because it had antiviral properties.
So, the team set out to find whether the same properties apply to the common
influenza A virus.
Viruses enter a cell and make copies inside that host cell, causing illness
and a general feeling of sickness.
After the infected cell is released, the virus is then spread around the body
and passed on to other people and the severity of the virus is dependent on
its replication.
The study gathered nasal cells from a man and a woman and looked at how
oestrogen impacted the virus’ ability to replicate.
The cell cultures were exposed to the virus, oestrogen, the environmental
oestrogen bisphenol A and selective oestrogen receptor modules (SERM)
compounds that act like oestrogen and are used in hormone therapy.
The test results revealed oestrogen, SERM compound raloxifene and bisphenol A
reduced flu virus replication in nasal cells from women.
But they were not found to reduce the virus replication in men.
Dr Klein said: “First, we conducted our study using primary cells
directly isolated from patients, allowing us to directly identify the
sex-specific effect of oestrogens.
“Second, this is the first study to identify the oestrogen receptor
responsible for the antiviral effects of oestrogens, bringing us closer to
understanding the mechanisms mediating this conserved antiviral effect of
oestrogens.”
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The study confirms evidence seen in animals that oestrogen helps protect them
from the flu virus.
Dr Klein said: “Because oestrogen levels cycle in premenopausal women, it
may be difficult to see this protective effect in the general population.
“But, premenopausal women on certain kinds of birth control or
post-menopausal women on hormone replacement may be better protected during
seasonal influenza epidemics.”
The findings were published in the American Journal of Physiology – Lung
Cellular and Molecular Physiology.