Science Sub-Journal: Evidence that Fetal Sex Affects Maternal Immunity

According to a new study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine , among pregnant women who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), the male placenta showed certain genes related to enhanced immune activation And protein levels are significantly higher than female placenta

In addition, the virus immunity transmitted to male fetuses by pregnant women infected with COVID-19 is significantly lower than that transmitted to female fetuses, which may affect the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in infants

Epidemiological studies have shown that male adults, children and infants have a higher prevalence of COVID-19 and more serious illnesses than females

The study included 68 pregnant women, 38 of whom were infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the third trimester before the development of the new crown vaccine

In a new discovery, Edlow and her colleagues showed that compared with female fetuses, male fetuses carried by COVID-19 women have much higher expression of interferon-stimulating genes (ISGs) in the placenta, and ISGs protect the fetus It plays a key role in preventing the invasion of viruses in the womb

In the second major discovery, Edlow's team showed that COVID-19 mothers with male fetuses produce lower levels of viral antibodies than mothers with female fetuses; they also transfer fewer antibodies to male fetuses

Next, Edlow and her co-researchers plan to study the characteristics of antibodies induced by the COVID-19 vaccine, and how these antibodies are affected by the timing of vaccination during pregnancy and, of course, the gender of the fetus

Science Translational Medicine

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