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| Women 'fight off disease better' | Women 'fight off disease better' |
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| Men really do have an excuse for being wimpy about coughs and colds - their immune systems are not as strong as those of women. | Men really do have an excuse for being wimpy about coughs and colds - their immune systems are not as strong as those of women. |
| Canadian research suggests the female sex hormone oestrogen gives women's immune systems added bite at fighting off infection. | Canadian research suggests the female sex hormone oestrogen gives women's immune systems added bite at fighting off infection. |
| Oestrogen seems to counter an enzyme which blocks the inflammatory process. | |
| The McGill University study appears in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. | The McGill University study appears in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. |
| These results demonstrate that women have a more powerful inflammatory response than men Dr Maya SalehMcGill University | These results demonstrate that women have a more powerful inflammatory response than men Dr Maya SalehMcGill University |
| The researchers focused on an enzyme called Caspase-12, which is known to put a brake on the inflammatory process, the body's first line of defence against harmful invaders such as bacteria and viruses. | The researchers focused on an enzyme called Caspase-12, which is known to put a brake on the inflammatory process, the body's first line of defence against harmful invaders such as bacteria and viruses. |
| They worked on mice that lacked the Caspase-12 gene, and were thus extremely resistant to infection. | |
| The human Caspase-12 gene was implanted into a group of male and female mice, but only the males became more prone to infection. | The human Caspase-12 gene was implanted into a group of male and female mice, but only the males became more prone to infection. |
| The researchers concluded that oestrogen produced by the female mice blocked the expression of the human Caspase-12 gene. | The researchers concluded that oestrogen produced by the female mice blocked the expression of the human Caspase-12 gene. |
| They were also able to locate the precise place where oestrogen binds to the gene in order to block its activity. | They were also able to locate the precise place where oestrogen binds to the gene in order to block its activity. |
| Since the experiments were conducted using a human gene, the researchers are confident their work is applicable to humans. | Since the experiments were conducted using a human gene, the researchers are confident their work is applicable to humans. |
| Lead researcher Dr Maya Saleh said: "These results demonstrate that women have a more powerful inflammatory response than men." | Lead researcher Dr Maya Saleh said: "These results demonstrate that women have a more powerful inflammatory response than men." |
| The researchers believe women may have evolved a more robust immune system because of their key role in producing and nurturing young. | The researchers believe women may have evolved a more robust immune system because of their key role in producing and nurturing young. |
| Their work raises the possibility of new ways to reinforce the immune system using genetic manipulation. | Their work raises the possibility of new ways to reinforce the immune system using genetic manipulation. |
| But writing in the journal, the researchers said: "A question remains: will men be amenable to the idea of being treated with an exclusively female hormone?" | But writing in the journal, the researchers said: "A question remains: will men be amenable to the idea of being treated with an exclusively female hormone?" |