Dual activation of estrogen receptor alpha and glucocorticoid receptor upregulate CRTh2-mediated type 2 inflammation; mechanism driving asthma severity in women?

Background: Type 2-high asthma is characterized by elevated levels of circulating Th2 cells and eosinophils, cells that express chemoattractant-homologous receptor expressed on Th2 cells (CRTh2). Severe asthma is more common in women than men; however, the underlying mechanism(s) remain elusive. Here we examined whether the relationship between severe asthma and type 2 inflammation differs by sex and if estrogen influences Th2 cell response to glucocorticoid (GC).