The role of estrogen in lung health

Estrogen, a key sex hormone, significantly influences lung health by modulating inflammation, immune responses, and disease progression. It impacts over 50% of women worldwide, yet the precise mechanisms underlying these effects remain misunderstood. This study evaluates how estrogen influences inflammation and disease progression in lung health, focusing on hormonal imbalances. A systematic review of PubMed and Scopus peer-reviewed literature (2000–2024) was performed. Thirty studies were selected considering their relevance for the role of estrogen in asthma, inflammation, lung cancer, and fibrosis. Studies that were included were experimental models to study estrogen receptors and hormonal effects on disease severity. Experiments also investigated the effect of estrogen receptors on immunity and the hormonal component in the severity of disease. Findings revealed that 50% of women with lung adenocarcinoma are non-smokers, and premenopausal women have lower survival rates. Experimental models revealed that estrogen exacerbated lung fibrosis, particularly in women with low gut microbial diversity. Estrogen metabolism was also linked to the development of lung cancer, revealing its impact on inflammatory and disease results. These findings align with previous studies showing that estrogen receptors modulate inflammatory pathways in lung cancer. Future research should explore estrogen receptor-targeted therapies and the interplay between hormonal and microbial factors in lung disease management.