A small study of transgender men taking testosterone revealed changes in immune pathways involved in responding to viruses and inflammation
A recent study found that trans men taking testosterone had white blood cell changes that resembled cis men's immune system activity.The immune systems of men and women are known to display key differences. Men are, broadly speaking, more vulnerable to, such as lupus. But the extent to which these differences arise from genetics, hormones or other factors is not well understood.offers some clues.
Within three months, most of the transgender men’s testosterone levels entered the typical range for cisgender men while their estradiol and progesterone levels decreased. Twelve months after starting hormone therapy, the participants showed a decrease in an immune response involving a protein called type I interferon, which the body uses to fight off viral infections.
To determine how much of the effect was linked to increased testosterone versus decreased estradiol, the researchers also took blood from healthy, cisgender female donors and exposed it to either testosterone or an estrogen blocker. They then measured the resulting immune changes and found that testosterone appeared to be directly involved in the TNF response. The type I interferon response was also affected by testosterone, but previous studies suggest estrogen may also play a role.
Brodin would like to see better monitoring of all patients receiving hormone therapy, whether for gender-affirming care or other reasons, such as estrogen or testosterone supplementation in cisgender men and women. “We should just urge caution for people taking hormone therapies for any purpose,” he says, “and make sure that we follow up to see that there are no health consequences that we don’t intend.
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