AUTHOR=Wei Xiangrui , Hong Longyan , Liang Hao , Ren Ke , Man Wenqing , Zhao Yinghui , Guo Pengbo 

TITLE=Estrogen and viral infection

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1556728

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2025.1556728

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=Gender differences exist in the susceptibility, incidence, progression, and prognosis of diseases caused by viral infections. These differences are influenced by various factors, including lifestyle and habits between males and females. Some reports have pointed out that estrogen plays an important immune-modulatory role in many viral infections. In certain viral infections, estrogen exhibits a protective and regulatory effect, while in others, it has a synergistic and promoting effect. The action of estrogen and its receptors affect the occurrence and prognosis of viral infections to some extent. This article reviews the correlation and the related mechanisms between estrogen and viral infections.