Study suggests health differences between men, women involve social factors, not only biological
New Delhi: Genetics may not solely explain the biology which cause different health risks, symptoms and outcomes between men and women -- social factors such as neighbourhood and lifestyle too need to be looked at, according to a study.
The research, led by Queen Mary University, UK, analysed genetic links between nearly 6,000 proteins and diseases in 56,000 people.
A "very small" fraction -- around 100 proteins -- were found to be responsible for differing levels of majority of the 6,000 proteins studied between men and women.
Findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, "clearly show that with very few exceptions, protein regulating genetic variants identified so far behave in a very similar way in males and females,"
Claudia Langenberg
, director of Precision Healthcare University Research Institute, Queen Mary University, said.
"This provides evidence for an important implicit assumption -- that insights arising from studying these (genetic) variants apply to both sexes," Langenberg said.
The study highlights the importance of looking beyond genetics and medical factors, such as hormones, and looking at non-medical, social factors -- where people work and live, education, lifestyle, finances -- when comparing health risks and outcomes between men and women, the authors said.
The study's findings are "essential to guide
precision medicine
approaches and identify where one size may not fit all", Langenberg said.
Precision, or personalised, medicine takes into account one's genes, environment and lifestyle for preventing or treating a disease.
"For the first time in history, we are able to study human biology at this level of detail -- across genes, proteins, and more. This is the largest study to date exploring the similarities and differences in how our genetic code regulates blood protein levels between sexes," lead author Mine Koprulu, a postdoctoral researcher at Queen Mary University's Precision Healthcare University Research Institute, said.
"Our findings highlight the need to better understand the factors that impact health differences -- at the genetic level and beyond -- to create more tailored and equitable healthcare for everyone," Koprulu said.
For the study, data from the UK Biobank and 'Fenland Study' -- which is examining how genetics interact with environmental factors in metabolic disorders, such as obesity and diabetes -- was analysed.
"Our results that collectively add to an emerging body of literature, that strong differences in health between the sexes later in life cannot be fully explained by sex-differential or even sex-discordant effects of genetic susceptibility in individual genetic (regions)," the authors wrote.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
6 hours ago
- News18
Covid Virus's Bodyguard: How Pathogen Protects Itself While Replicating
Last Updated: US study highlights that disrupting this protective shield significantly reduces the virus's ability to spread, which could be key to developing more effective antiviral treatments Scientists from the Texas Biomedical Research Institute and the University of Chicago have made a significant breakthrough in understanding SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for Covid-19. Their collaborative efforts have identified a crucial self-protective mechanism that the virus uses within the human body, enabling it to replicate effectively and infect more cells. The study highlights that disrupting this protective shield significantly reduces the virus's ability to spread, emphasising its critical role in viral propagation. The research reveals that SARS-CoV-2 is not just an invading pathogen but a sophisticated entity that actively protects itself during the infection process. This newly discovered mechanism allows the virus to survive and multiply within host cells, bypassing the body's natural defences. Scientists observed a direct correlation: interference with this shielding process led to a significant drop in the viral infection rate. This finding, published in the journal Nature Communications, strongly suggests that understanding and potentially targeting this protective strategy could be key to developing more effective antiviral treatments. While the initial report does not delve into the specific molecular or cellular details of how this mechanism operates, its identification marks a pivotal moment in Covid-19 research. Scientists emphasise its profound importance in deciphering the intricate ways the virus spreads at a cellular level. Unravelling this protective shield could open new avenues for therapeutic intervention, potentially leading to drugs that disarm the virus's ability to protect itself, thereby limiting its replication and spread within an infected individual. This discovery holds promise for a more targeted approach to combating Covid-19. By understanding the virus's internal defences, researchers can work towards developing antiviral therapies that specifically dismantle this protective mechanism, rather than relying solely on broad-spectrum approaches. (With agency inputs) First Published: June 06, 2025, 18:46 IST
Economic Times
10 hours ago
- Economic Times
Just a small mutation away? New China-linked virus could be next big threat
Agencies New China-linked bat virus could be next big threat A group of bat viruses closely related to the deadly Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) — and first identified in bats in China — may be just one small mutation away from infecting humans and potentially triggering the next global pandemic, scientists have warned. In a recent study published in Nature Communications, researchers revealed that a specific subgroup of these viruses, known as HKU5, shows worrying signs of being able to jump species, raising alarms about a possible spillover from animals to people. The study, led by researchers from Washington State University (WSU), in collaboration with the California Institute of Technology and the University of North Carolina, focused on a lesser-known subset of coronaviruses called merbecoviruses—the same family that includes MERS, which has a human fatality rate of approximately 34%. While most merbecoviruses appear unlikely to infect humans directly, one particular group, known as HKU5, is showing troubling potential. 'Merbecoviruses — and HKU5 viruses in particular — really hadn't been looked at much, but our study shows how these viruses infect cells,' said Michael Letko, virologist at WSU's College of Veterinary Medicine. 'What we also found is HKU5 viruses may be only a small step away from being able to spill over into humans.' Using virus-like particles engineered to contain only the receptor-binding portion of the virus's spike protein, the researchers demonstrated that HKU5 viruses can already use the ACE2 receptor—the same receptor used by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. However, for now, HKU5 viruses bind more efficiently to bat ACE2 and do not infect human cells effectively—yet. The viruses were originally discovered in Japanese house bats (Pipistrellus abramus), but recent studies suggest some HKU5 strains may already be jumping to intermediate hosts such as minks, a key step that could lead to human infections.'These viruses are so closely related to MERS, so we have to be concerned if they ever infect humans,' Letko cautioned. 'While there's no evidence they've crossed into people yet, the potential is there — and that makes them worth watching.'The team also deployed artificial intelligence tools, such as AlphaFold 3, to simulate how HKU5's spike protein interacts with the ACE2 receptor at a molecular level. The AI-generated models matched results produced by traditional lab methods, but in a fraction of the time, significantly speeding up the understanding of how the virus might evolve and evade immune defenses.
News18
13 hours ago
- News18
Next Pandemic Soon? Bat Viruses In China Show Covid-Like Threat, Scientists Warn
Last Updated: Like SARS-CoV-2- the virus behind Covid-19- these bat viruses use spike proteins to invade host cells by attaching to the ACE2 receptor. A newly published study in Nature Communications raised alarm as it showed that a little-known group of bat viruses could be just a single mutation away from infecting humans. The research, conducted by teams from Washington State University, Caltech and the University of North Carolina, zeroes in on HKU5 viruses—a subgroup within the merbecoviruses, which are relatives of MERS-CoV, the deadly coronavirus that emerged in 2012 and carries a fatality rate of around 34%. 'HKU5 viruses haven't been studied much, but our research shows they have the machinery to infect cells. In fact, they might be only a single step away from being able to infect humans," Dr. Michael Letko, the study's lead author and a virologist at Washington State University, said. The Spike Protein Problem Like SARS-CoV-2- the virus behind Covid-19- these bat viruses use spike proteins to invade host cells by attaching to the ACE2 receptor. Currently, HKU5 viruses bind to ACE2 only in bats. But scientists warn that a tiny genetic change could allow them to jump to humans. Supporting this concern, some HKU5 variants have already been seen infecting minks in China- proof that they can jump between species. Adding to the urgency, researchers used AlphaFold 3, a cutting-edge AI tool, to model how these spike proteins could evolve. The software simulated potential mutations and interactions with human cells in minutes, accurately matching traditional lab results. Scientists' Warning For The Future The new findings align with earlier research led by China's renowned virologist Shi Zhengli- often dubbed the 'batwoman." Her team had found that HKU5-CoV-2, a variant in this group, was capable of infecting human cells in test tubes and lab models of the human respiratory and digestive systems. The researchers also identified potential monoclonal antibodies and antivirals that could target the virus if it crosses over. Dr. Letko stressed, 'There's no need to panic, but there is every reason to prepare." About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" First Published: June 06, 2025, 19:01 IST
