Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) enables transgender individuals to align their secondary sex characteristics with their gender identity. This study explores the effects of GAHT on immune response, providing insights into the broader impacts of gonadal steroids on human immunity.
The study involved longitudinal blood sampling from 23 trans men, revealing significant changes in serum hormone concentrations during testosterone therapy. Testosterone levels rose to the male reference range, whereas oestradiol and progesterone concentrations decreased, highlighting hormone dynamics throughout treatment.
In examining immune responses, mRNA sequencing showed a decrease in transcripts associated with interferon-alpha pathways while signaling pathways related to tumor necrosis factor and inflammatory responses were upregulated, reflecting the complex immunomodulatory effects of testosterone.
Analyzing plasma proteins and immune cell phenotypes over the course of treatment unveiled integrated changes among cell populations, suggesting that testosterone not only affects hormone levels but also influences immune system functioning and inflammatory responses in trans men under therapy.
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