The Protective Role of Estrogen as an Antiviral Agent Against the Flu
Julia Wójcik
2026-03-18
1 min. read
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According to an article published in American Journal of Physiology – Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, female hormones, specifically estrogen, exhibit antiviral properties that protect women from contracting the flu and its spread. However, men who underwent a similar hormonal treatment did not achieve such positive results.
The protective role of estrogens against influenza A virus: groundbreaking findings from Johns Hopkins researchers
Researchers at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University have uncovered compelling evidence regarding the protective properties of estrogens—the primary female sex hormones. The study involved nasal epithelial cells previously infected with influenza A virus, which were subsequently exposed to a range of compounds, including natural estrogens, the synthetic chemical bisphenol A (BPA), and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), commonly utilized in hormone replacement therapies. The experiment included both male and female participants. Findings demonstrated that in women, estrogens significantly suppressed viral replication within respiratory tract cells. Moreover, the data revealed that these hormones not only prevented further propagation of the pathogen but also actively neutralized pre-existing viral particles. Notably, this protective effect was observed exclusively in female subjects. Given that estrogens perform a multitude of regulatory functions in the body—spanning reproductive health to metabolic processes—their newly identified antiviral potential may prove instrumental in developing future therapeutic interventions against seasonal influenza. This discovery paves the way for the creation of novel antiviral medications grounded in hormonal mechanisms.
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