Girls Maturing Almost a Year Ahead of Boys, According to Pediatrician

Girls Maturing Almost a Year Ahead of Boys, According to Pediatrician

17:13 3 May 🗞 Puberty's Hidden Impact on Immune Systems

Discover how hormonal changes during puberty impact boys and girls differently, affecting their immune responses and disease susceptibility, as explained by pediatrician Pavel Berezhanov in a recent interview with 360.ru.

The Uneven Battlefield

Female hormones boost immune system function, making girls better equipped during puberty, while male hormones suppress the immune system, leaving boys more prone to illnesses but less susceptible to allergic reactions.

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While the onset of puberty can be delayed by various factors, some of the most significant include:

• Heredity
• Racial differences

Athletes who push their bodies to the limit, such as Olympians, may experience hormonal imbalances, potentially slowing down development. Severe stress, caused by bullying or other external factors, can postpone puberty by up to two and a half years. Chronic illnesses that weaken the immune system and cause nutrient deficiencies can also impact this process. In some cases, puberty may not complete fully due to chronic or genetic diseases, vitamin deficiency, or a combination of factors.

Diving Deeper

Understanding the intricate interplay between hormones and the immune system during puberty sheds light on the distinctive differences in immune responses and disease susceptibility between boys and girls:

1. Sex Hormones and Immune Function

Testosterone (dominant in boys) generally acts as an immunosuppressant, reducing immune cell activity and antiviral responses. On the other hand, estrogens (dominant in girls) present complex, concentration-dependent effects that promote both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses as well as cell-mediated and humoral immunity.

2. Sexual Dimorphism in Immune Function and Disease Risk

Girls exhibit stronger immune responses to infections and vaccines, but are more prone to autoimmune conditions. Boys, meanwhile, have weaker immune responses but are less susceptible to autoimmune diseases.

3. Molecular and Epigenetic Mechanisms

Sex hormones influence immune cells at transcriptional and epigenetic levels, modulating inflammation control, antiviral defense, and gene expression.

4. Immune System Changes During Puberty

Puberty coincides with the maturation of the immune system and an increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases, particularly in girls due to the immunomodulatory effects of estrogens combined with genetic factors. Hormonal fluctuations during puberty also influence skin immunity and inflammatory conditions such as eczema.

A Closer Look

Here's a summary of the main differences in immune system responses between boys and girls during puberty:

| Aspect | Boys (Testosterone Effects) | Girls (Estrogen Effects) ||--------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|| Immune cell activity | Suppression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF); increased anti-inflammatory IL-10 | Low estrogen: proinflammatory; high estrogen: anti-inflammatory, promotes humoral immunity || Innate immunity | Reduced IFN-I production and TLR7/8 responses | Enhanced innate immune responses || Disease susceptibility | Lower autoimmune disease risk, weaker viral control| Higher autoimmune risk, stronger viral control || Epigenetic influence | Chromatin remodeling promoting monocyte responsiveness| Influence on gene expression and inflammatory pathways|| Overall immune response | Generally dampened inflammation | Generally heightened immune responses |

In essence, testosterone in boys tends to suppress immune activation, leading to reduced proinflammatory responses and lower innate antiviral signaling, while estrogens in girls enhance and modulate immune responses in a dose-dependent manner, promoting stronger immunity but also greater autoimmune risk. These hormonal effects mold the sexual dimorphism in immune function and disease susceptibility that manifest during puberty.

1. The hormonal changes during puberty affect boys and girls differently, with estrogens in girls boosting immune system function and boys' testosterone suppressing it.
2. Girls exhibit stronger immune responses to infections and vaccines but are more prone to autoimmune conditions, while boys have weaker immune responses and are less susceptible to autoimmune diseases.
3. Understanding the impact of sex hormones on immune function during puberty is crucial for understanding the distinctive differences in immune responses and disease susceptibility between boys and girls.
4. Chronic illnesses and diseases that weaken the immune system, such as some chronic diseases, genetic diseases, vitamin deficiencies, and severe stress, can impact the onset and completion of puberty.

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