A propósito del Covid-19. El rol de la edad y género en la inmunidad

Abstract

The purpose of the immune system is to protect the body from pathogenic microorganisms
 such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and even tumor cells, which could cause disease. When the
 encounter with pathogens occurs, defenses are produced immediately through the innate
 response, faster and more nonspecific, and through the adaptive response, more defined and
 personalized for each attacker. Both are triggered by the cells of the immune system being
 able to communicate with each other, once they have been activated. The innate immune
 system works in tune with the acquired immune system through the close intervention of the
 sex hormones, with specific strategies of estrogen and progesterone. Both have a proven
 anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action not only at the level of the wall of blood vessels, skin
 and mucous membranes, but also in the protection of the central nervous system against all
 toxic agents, such as viruses. Estrogens and progesterone play an essential role in the immune
 response and its evolution, and although they initially appear as antagonistic responses, they
 are not, despite the fact that estrogens increase and progesterone seems to suppress the
 immune response, depending on the immune target according to the case.