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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 14, 2014; 20(10): 2433-2448
Published online Mar 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i10.2433
Published online Mar 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i10.2433
Sex hormones in the modulation of irritable bowel syndrome
Agata Mulak, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
Yvette Taché, Muriel Larauche, CURE: Digestive Diseases Research Center and Oppenheimer Family Center for Neurobiology of Stress, Digestive Diseases Division, Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 90073, United States
Author contributions: Mulak A designed and wrote the paper; Taché Y designed, wrote and reviewed the paper; Larauche M wrote and reviewed the paper.
Supported by The Veterans Administration Research Career Scientist Award (to Taché Y); National Institute of Health grants No. P50 DK-64539 (to Taché Y); and No. K01-DK088937 (to Larauche M)
Correspondence to: Agata Mulak, MD, PhD, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland. agata.mulak@wp.pl
Telephone: +48-71-7332120 Fax: +48-71-7332129
Received: September 25, 2013
Revised: December 10, 2013
Accepted: January 14, 2014
Published online: March 14, 2014
Revised: December 10, 2013
Accepted: January 14, 2014
Published online: March 14, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Recent clinical and experimental findings support the modulatory actions of sex hormones exerted at different levels of the brain-gut-microbiota axis in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Sex hormones may influence peripheral and central regulatory mechanisms contributing to the alterations in visceral sensitivity, motility, permeability, and immune activation of intestinal mucosa. A new concept of “microgenderome” is emerging based on the observations that the gender bias present in numerous diseases may be reinforced by the commensal microbiota of the host. Significant sex differences in epidemiology, symptomatology, and treatment outcome in IBS indicate the necessity for sex-tailored therapeutic approach in this disorder.