Garvan Institute study identifies 1,000 genetic switches driving sex differences in immunity

Researchers from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and UNSW Sydney have identified over 1,000 genetic switches that cause immune cells to function differently in men and women. This discovery, published in The American Journal of Human Genetics, provides insight into why women often possess stronger immune responses to infections but also face a significantly higher risk of autoimmune diseases, such as lupus.

Using single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze over one million individual human immune cells, the study revealed that these genetic switches—acting as molecular ‘volume controls’—reside largely on autosomes rather than just the X and Y sex chromosomes. This suggests that sex-based immune variation is a deeper phenomenon than previously thought, involving more than just hormonal or chromosomal influences.

While not an immediate cure, the identification of these switches offers a pathway toward personalized medicine, potentially allowing for future treatments that can precisely regulate immune responses based on an individual's specific genetic profile.