A recent study reveals that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may reverse immune system changes in menopausal women, potentially boosting immune health and reducing infection risk.
A new study led by researchers at Queen Mary University of London suggests that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) could reverse the immune system alterations caused by menopause, potentially bolstering immune health in women.
Published in Aging Cell, the study provides new insights into how menopause dramatically impacts women’s immune systems, increasing their susceptibility to infections. The researchers conducted an in-depth analysis of monocytes — a critical group of immune cells that serve as the body’s initial responders to infection — across different age groups.
The study examined blood samples from younger adults (under 40 years old) and older adults (aged 65 and above). The findings revealed that post-menopausal women developed more inflammatory monocytes, which are less effective in combating bacteria.
These changes were linked to diminished levels of complement C3, a crucial immune protein that aids monocytes in destroying harmful microbes.
Interestingly, men of the same age group did not exhibit these changes, indicating that menopause uniquely disrupts female immunity.
“Our findings highlight menopause as a critical turning point for women’s immunity. While ageing affects everyone, the loss of female hormones appears to accelerate immune decline in women. Encouragingly, hormone therapy seems to restore key aspects of immune health, offering benefits that go beyond easing menopausal symptoms,” lead author Emma Chambers, a senior lecturer in immunology at Queen Mary, said in a news release.
To assess if HRT could mitigate these immune challenges, the researchers analyzed peri- and post-menopausal women using hormone therapy.
The results indicated that these women had healthier immune profiles, marked by fewer inflammatory monocytes and enhanced infection-fighting capabilities compared to age-matched controls. Additionally, HRT appeared to elevate complement C3 levels, aligning them closer to the immune status of younger women.
“We’re proud to have supported this pioneering research,” added Fiona Miller Smith, chief executive of Barts Charity. “This is a brilliant example of how funding innovative ideas in health can lead to advances in our understanding – this time around menopause and women’s immune systems. These findings could have a huge impact for women in our East London community and beyond.”
Menopause, which generally occurs between ages 45 and 55, is often preceded by a prolonged peri-menopausal phase. The symptoms, including hot flushes, joint pain, fatigue and brain fog, can severely affect women’s quality of life.
Although HRT is already prescribed to manage menopausal symptoms, this study suggests it might also support immune health and lower infection risks in later life.
However, the researchers emphasize the necessity of further studies to confirm if HRT effectively reduces real-world infection rates and to explore how different HRT formulations and delivery methods impact the immune system.
Source: Queen Mary University of London