Covid-19 antibodies reduce faster in men than women – study

[helvella]

Although this research is strictly related to Covid-19, I couldn't help wondering if the differences in antibody responses might also be a factor in the development of autoimmune disorders in general? There have long been recorded differences between the sexes.

Also, does the difference persist through menopause? Or does it fade away as do some of the other observed differences.

Covid-19 antibodies reduce faster in men than women – study

Finding has implications for one-size-fits-all approach to vaccine development

Antibody levels against the virus that causes Covid-19 appear to fall faster in men than women, a study suggests, in a finding that could have implications for vaccine research.

Historically, medical research has often taken a one-size-fits-all approach, lumping women and men together despite growing evidence that the sexes differ in how they catch and fight disease. Covid-19 seems to be a case in point, with women more likely to be infected, but men thought to be up to twice as likely to die from the virus.

Rest of article available here:

theguardian.com/world/2020/...

Please try to keep the discussion on-topic for this forum.

[tattybogle]

That's funny...on our news last night , they were appealing for men , and black/asian men to go and give blood plasma at pop up plasma donation centres because men were shown to have a higher concentration of covid antibodies, and they want it for treating covid.

(Which fits with my observation of men seeming to have worse problem with covid than women.)

Curious that antibody levels fall faster i men than women.

All very interesting, but a bit concerning if you're a man.

[Angel_of_the_North]

I wonder about T-cells also, as they seem to be more important than antibodies - and whether maintaining antibody levels is more likely to give rise to autoimmune diseases (more common in women)?

[tattybogle in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

On Radio 4 this morning. chair of british society for immunology expert advisory group. talking about a new study that was showing that memory B cells (which produce the antibodies ?)and memory T cells were slowly increasing over the first couple of months even in people who's covid 19 antibody levels were falling quickly. Memory cells are what recognises the virus if we get it again and are ready to produce antibodies quicker next time ,,i think.

All this antibody talk is very interesting, am quite hopeful some better understanding might come out of it for us autoimmune thyroid patients too.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to tattybogle]

I don't know about you, but the complexities of our immune systems overwhelm me!

I guess, if they were simple, we'd have known all about them many years ago.

[tattybogle in reply to helvella]

🈷️ 🈶 🈚 🈸 🎃 🐝 🐳 🎯 👜 🎻 🔦 📌 ✂️ 🔑 🔫 ⛔ 🏁

Sorry , i was going to say something sensible about the female vs male immune system and the need to accommodate a foetus for 9 months , but then i noticed somebody had left me a new toy box to play with and became distracted.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to tattybogle]

Could you possibly interpret that into English?

[tattybogle in reply to helvella]

💬 no , 🐫 🐩 🐖 🐪 🐧 is much more fun.

[serenfach in reply to tattybogle]

Thanks for the smile this gave me - much needed. I dont seem to have a toy box so I will just go and sit in the corner and play with raffia.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to serenfach]

Toy box has been rolled back - we can expect it to return soon.

Cat's cradle is difficult with raffia - doesn't slide very well.

[serenfach in reply to helvella]

I think you have to be of a certain age to remember raffia.

Can someone nip over and untangle me please.