Recent study revealed that the female sex hormone estrogen strengthens women’s immune systems to fight coughs and cold. McGill University researchers used animal models to reach at the findings.

Researchers studied mice that lacked the Caspase-12 gene. This gene is known to put a stop on the inflammatory process, the body's first line of defence against bacteria and viruses. Hence mice used in the study were resistant to infection.

Researchers implanted the human Caspase-12 gene in a group of male and female mice. Researchers found that only the males became more venerable to infection.

Study revealed that estrogen produced by the female mice blocked the human Caspase-12 gene. Researchers also found the exact place where estrogen holds the gene to make it inactive.

Dr Maya Saleh, study author, said: "These results demonstrate that women have a more powerful inflammatory response than men."

Dr Lesley Knapp, of the University of Cambridge, said: "Women are well known to be able to respond more robustly to infections, and to recover more quickly than men."

(via TopNews United States. Contributed by Amit Pathania)

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