RNA origin of sex-biased immunity

Molecular Therapy — Nucleic Acids 2026 Open access

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Authors: Howard Y. Chang, Lorinda Chung, Mark M. Davis, David Franklin Fiorentino, Jinwoo Lee, Emma Lundberg, PJ Utz
DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2026.102853
Cited by: 1
References: 6

Abstract

The human immune system exhibits a striking sex bias. Autoimmune diseases comprise a large set of disorders that together afflict 50 million Americans; four of five patients with autoimmunity are women. In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the ratio of patient sex is 9:1 females to males; the ratio in Sjögren’s disease is 19:1 female to male patients.1 Why are the immune systems of men and women different? Conventional explanations invoke differences in sex hormones or sex chromosomes. Women have two X chromosomes (XX) and men have one X and one Y (XY) chromosome, with the Y-linked genes driving male characteristics.

Fields of Study & Subjects

interferon and immune responses RNA regulation and disease Immunotherapy and Immune Responses

Publication details

Journal / source
Molecular Therapy — Nucleic Acids
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Volume
37
Issue
1
Pages
102853–102853
Publication date
16 February 2026
Language
EN