For this study, the team headed by Sabra L. Klein, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Departments of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Bloomberg School, examined the nasal cells in men and women to see whether or not estrogen can effectively limit the flu from replicating in the infected cells of the body.
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Additionally, the researchers want to emphasize not to use hormonal therapies just for the objective of preventing flu. So even if women do come down with the flu, it’s usually less severe.
Specifically, researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health discovered that it does not matter what form of estrogen is present.
The process of replication is essential for a virus to survive and propagate within and beyond its host.
Estrogen has been found to weaken viruses that cause Ebola, HIV and hepatitis.
For investigation, she along with her colleagues gathered cells from the nasal passage, usually the body’s first cells to get the flu infection from female and male volunteers. After that, the cells were exposed to a moderate array of synthetic substances similar to estrogen that are generally found in hormone replacement medicines.
The findings in this new study support earlier evidence from studies in animals that showed protective effects of estrogen against the flu. The team then exposed the nasal cells to the influenza A virus.
Tests showed that female cells that received estrogens, including some types of SERMs and bisphenol A, had marked reductions of viral replications – almost 1,000-fold less compared to those that had not been exposed to these hormones. They found that binding to estrogen receptors can reduce the activity of over 30 genes involved in cell metabolism, thus slowing their metabolic activity and halting them from creating viral particles.
While the study looks beneficial for women, Klein says it may not produce highly positive effects for all.
Klein adds that the fluctuations of the hormone throughout the menstrual cycle might make it hard to truly appraise its protective effect.
“If women are taking estrogen-like hormones for other reasons, an added benefit might be less susceptibility to influenza during the flu season”, Klein said reported by the press release. Estrogen’s effects are highly varied; one may be as good as strengthening bones while another as bad as increasing cancer risks.
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The study was published online recently in the American Journal of Physiology – Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology.
