It's all about sex: gender, lung development and lung disease

Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2007 Oct;18(8):308-13. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2007.08.003. Epub 2007 Aug 30.

Abstract

Accumulating evidence suggests that gender affects the incidence, susceptibility and severity of several lung diseases. Gender also influences lung development and physiology. Data from both human and animal studies indicate that sex hormones might contribute to disease pathogenesis or serve as protective factors, depending on the disease involved. In this review, the influence of gender and sex hormones on lung development and pathology will be discussed, with specific emphasis on pulmonary fibrosis, asthma and cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Asthma / epidemiology
  • Asthma / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / epidemiology
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / etiology
  • Lung / growth & development*
  • Lung Diseases / epidemiology
  • Lung Diseases / etiology*
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / epidemiology
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / etiology
  • Lung Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Lung Neoplasms / etiology
  • Male
  • Models, Biological
  • Morphogenesis / physiology*
  • Prevalence
  • Sex Characteristics*