Are sex discordant outcomes in COVID-19 related to sex hormones?

doi:10.1053/j.seminoncol.2020.06.002

Review

. 2020 Oct;47(5):335-340.

doi: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2020.06.002. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Are sex discordant outcomes in COVID-19 related to sex hormones?

Jonathan D Strope¹, Cindy H Chau¹, William D Figg²

Affiliations

¹ Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.
² Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD. Electronic address: figgw@mail.nih.gov.

PMID: 32660890
PMCID: PMC7298487
DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2020.06.002

Review

Are sex discordant outcomes in COVID-19 related to sex hormones?

Jonathan D Strope et al. Semin Oncol. 2020 Oct.

. 2020 Oct;47(5):335-340.

doi: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2020.06.002. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Authors

Jonathan D Strope¹, Cindy H Chau¹, William D Figg²

Affiliations

¹ Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.
² Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD. Electronic address: figgw@mail.nih.gov.

PMID: 32660890
PMCID: PMC7298487
DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2020.06.002

Abstract

COVID-19 has a clear sex disparity in clinical outcome. Globally, infection rates between men and women are similar; however, men are more likely to have more severe disease and are more likely to die. The causes for this disparity are currently under investigation and are most likely multifactorial. Sex hormones play an important role in the immune response with estrogen seen as immune boosting and testosterone as immunosuppressing. Additionally, an important protease involved in viral entry, TMPRSS2, is regulated by androgens. Many observational and prospective studies are ongoing or initiating to further examine the role of sex hormones in SARS-CoV-2 infection and if modulation of them is a realistic treatment option.

Keywords: ACE; Androgens; COVID-19; Coronavirus; SARS-CoV-2; TMPRSS2.

Published by Elsevier Inc.

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Figures

**Fig. 1**
Indicated locations of expression for co-expression ACE2 and TMPRSS2. These locations may provide insight into SARS-CoV-2 infection profile and clinical manifestations. Figure produced using Biorender.com.

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References

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1. Sharma G, Volgman AS, Michos ED. Sex differences in mortality from COVID-19 pandemic: are men vulnerable and women protected? JACC Case Rep. 2020 - PMC - PubMed
1. Cai H. Sex difference and smoking predisposition in patients with COVID-19. Lancet Respir Med. 2020;8:e20. - PMC - PubMed
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[1] Jin JM, Bai P, He W. Gender differences in patients with COVID-19: focus on severity and mortality. Front Public Health. 2020;8:152. - PMC - PubMed

[2] Jin JM, Bai P, He W. Gender differences in patients with COVID-19: focus on severity and mortality. Front Public Health. 2020;8:152. - PMC - PubMed

[3] Sharma G, Volgman AS, Michos ED. Sex differences in mortality from COVID-19 pandemic: are men vulnerable and women protected? JACC Case Rep. 2020 - PMC - PubMed

[4] Sharma G, Volgman AS, Michos ED. Sex differences in mortality from COVID-19 pandemic: are men vulnerable and women protected? JACC Case Rep. 2020 - PMC - PubMed

[5] Cai H. Sex difference and smoking predisposition in patients with COVID-19. Lancet Respir Med. 2020;8:e20. - PMC - PubMed

[6] Cai H. Sex difference and smoking predisposition in patients with COVID-19. Lancet Respir Med. 2020;8:e20. - PMC - PubMed

[7] Hoffmann M, Kleine-Weber H, Schroeder S. SARS-CoV-2 cell entry depends on ACE2 and TMPRSS2 and is blocked by a clinically proven protease inhibitor. Cell. 2020;181:271–280. e8. - PMC - PubMed

[8] Hoffmann M, Kleine-Weber H, Schroeder S. SARS-CoV-2 cell entry depends on ACE2 and TMPRSS2 and is blocked by a clinically proven protease inhibitor. Cell. 2020;181:271–280. e8. - PMC - PubMed

[9] Hagglof C, Hammarsten P, Stromvall K. TMPRSS2-ERG expression predicts prostate cancer survival and associates with stromal biomarkers. PLoS One. 2014;9:e86824. - PMC - PubMed

[10] Hagglof C, Hammarsten P, Stromvall K. TMPRSS2-ERG expression predicts prostate cancer survival and associates with stromal biomarkers. PLoS One. 2014;9:e86824. - PMC - PubMed

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Are sex discordant outcomes in COVID-19 related to sex hormones?

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Are sex discordant outcomes in COVID-19 related to sex hormones?

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