The Gut Microbiome and Sex Hormone-Related Diseases

Abstract

The role of the gut microbiome has been a hot topic in recent years. One aim of this review is to shed light on the crosstalk between sex hormones and the gut microbiome. Researchers have observed a sex bias of the composition of the gut microbiome in mice and have proved that sex differences influence the composition of the gut microbiome, although the influence is usually obscured by genetic variations. Via cell studies, animal studies and some observational studies in humans, researchers have confirmed that the gut microbiome can be shaped by the hormonal environment. On other hand, some theories suggest that the gut microbiota regulates the levels of sex hormones via interactions among its metabolites, the immune system, chronic inflammation and some nerve-endocrine axes, such as the gut-brain axis. In addition, bidirectional interactions between the microbiome and the hormonal system have also been observed, and the mechanisms of these interactions are being explored. We further describe the role of the gut microbiome in sex hormone-related diseases, such as ovarian cancer, postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP), polycystic ovary syndrome and type 1 diabetes. Among these diseases, PMOP is described in detail. Finally, we discuss the treatments of these diseases and the application prospects of microbial intervention.

Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence of nasopharyngeal exudate from healthy donors reveals changes in key microbial communities associated with aging

“…Our analyses of nasopharyngeal taxonomic composition at the phylum level revealed the existence of sex-associated differences within the age groups including individuals between 21 and 70 years of age, but not in the youngest and oldest people. As previously mentioned for the alpha diversity results, multiple sex-associated differences in taxonomic composition have also been described for the human gut microbiome 36 , and numerous studies have found evidence to support the idea that levels of sex hormones, such as progesterone 38 , androgen 39 , and oestrogen 40 , regulate its composition 41,42 . The effects of sex hormones on other microbial niches, such as the human vaginal microbiota, have also recently been demonstrated 43 .…”

Gut Microbiota and Sex Hormones: Crosstalking Players in Cardiometabolic and Cardiovascular Disease

“…In turn, the microbial population affects SH levels to condition the host physiology and pathophysiology [62]. Such reciprocal GM/SH relationship is involved in the gender-related response to noxious stimuli and could partly explain the gender difference observed in the incidence and progression of certain diseases, including metabolic and CV disease [63]. An intriguing example of how SH and GM interact in the evolution of type-1 diabetes (T1D) derives from investigation on mouse models of non-obese T1D.…”

“…Just as GM is influenced by SH, in turn GM may be an important regulator of circulating levels of SH and SH metabolites [63]. In fact, GM is able to produce hormones (e.g., serotonin, dopamine, somatostatine), and to regulate the host's hormones homeostasis by inhibiting gene transcription (e.g., prolactin) or fostering conversion reactions (e.g., glucocorticoids to androgens) [58].…”

The Urinary Microbiome: Role in Bladder Cancer and Treatment

“…Compared to other microbiomes found throughout the body, the urinary microbiome has not yet been adequately defined [ 24 ]. The few clinical trials that have been conducted typically suffer from constraints such as small sample size, imprecise method of urine collection, and high heterogeneity in characteristics such as race and age [ 25 ]. Defining a single general set of bacteria that constitutes a healthy bladder is thus challenging, but comparative studies have shed some light on overlapping and diverging urinary microbiome compositions.…”