Background: Epidemiological and clinical studies have largely demonstrated major differences in the prevalence of metabolic disorders in males and females, but the biological cause of these dissimilarities remain to be elucidated. Mammals are characterized by a major change in reproductive strategies and it is conceivable that these changes subjected females to a significant evolutionary pressure that perfected the coupling between energy metabolism and reproduction. Scope of review: This review will address the plausibility that female liver functions diverged significantly from males given the role of liver in the control of metabolism. Indeed, it is well known that the liver is sexually dimorphic, and this might be relevant to explain the lower susceptibility to hepatic diseases and liver-derived metabolic disturbances (such as the cardiovascular diseases) characteristic of females during their fertile period. Furthermore, estrogens and the hepatic ERα play a significant role in liver sexual-specific functions and in the control of metabolic functions. Conclusions: A better grasp of the role of male and female sex steroids in the liver of the two sexes may therefore represent an important element to conceive novel treatments aimed at preventing metabolic diseases particularly in ageing women or limiting undesired side effect in the treatment of gender dysphoria.

Sex, metabolism and health / A. Maggi, S. Della Torre. - In: MOLECULAR METABOLISM. - ISSN 2212-8778. - 15:Special issue(2018 Sep), pp. 3-7. [10.1016/j.molmet.2018.02.012]

Sex, metabolism and health

A. Maggi
Primo
Conceptualization
;
S. Della Torre
Ultimo
Writing – Review & Editing
2018

Abstract

Background: Epidemiological and clinical studies have largely demonstrated major differences in the prevalence of metabolic disorders in males and females, but the biological cause of these dissimilarities remain to be elucidated. Mammals are characterized by a major change in reproductive strategies and it is conceivable that these changes subjected females to a significant evolutionary pressure that perfected the coupling between energy metabolism and reproduction. Scope of review: This review will address the plausibility that female liver functions diverged significantly from males given the role of liver in the control of metabolism. Indeed, it is well known that the liver is sexually dimorphic, and this might be relevant to explain the lower susceptibility to hepatic diseases and liver-derived metabolic disturbances (such as the cardiovascular diseases) characteristic of females during their fertile period. Furthermore, estrogens and the hepatic ERα play a significant role in liver sexual-specific functions and in the control of metabolic functions. Conclusions: A better grasp of the role of male and female sex steroids in the liver of the two sexes may therefore represent an important element to conceive novel treatments aimed at preventing metabolic diseases particularly in ageing women or limiting undesired side effect in the treatment of gender dysphoria.
health; sex; molecular biology; cell biology
Settore BIO/14 - Farmacologia
   Role of the Liver Estrogen Receptor in female Energy Metabolism, Reproduction and Aging: What About Your Liver Sexual Functions?
   WAYS
   EUROPEAN COMMISSION
   FP7
   322977

   Imaging of Neuroinflammation in Neurodegenerative Diseases
   INMIND
   EUROPEAN COMMISSION
   FP7
   278850

   A novel hypothesis on the development of metabolic syndrome in women
   FONDAZIONE CARIPLO
   2013-0786
set-2018
Article (author)
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
1-s2.0-S2212877818300371-main.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Publisher's version/PDF
Dimensione 300.72 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
300.72 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/590134
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 23
  • Scopus 49
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 46
social impact