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REVIEW article

Front. Endocrinol.
Sec. Pediatric Endocrinology
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1425149
This article is part of the Research Topic Perinatal and Post-Natal Life: Metabolism and Health Outcomes View all 3 articles

The impact of hormones on lung development and function: an overlooked aspect to consider from early childhood

Provisionally accepted
Gloria Pelizzo Gloria Pelizzo 1Valeria Calcaterra Valeria Calcaterra 2*Paola Baldassarre Paola Baldassarre 3Michela Marinaro Michela Marinaro 3Silvia Taranto Silvia Taranto 3Michele Ceresola Michele Ceresola 3Gerson Capelo Gerson Capelo 3Cassandra Gazzola Cassandra Gazzola 3Gianvincenzo Zuccotti Gianvincenzo Zuccotti 1
  • 1 University of Milan, Milan, Lombardy, Italy
  • 2 University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
  • 3 Buzzi Children’s Hospital, Milan, Lombardy, Italy

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The impact of hormones on the respiratory system constitutes a multifaceted and intricate facet of human biology. We propose a comprehensive review of recent advancements in understanding the interactions between hormones and pulmonary development and function, focusing on pediatric populations. We explore how hormones can influence ventilation, perfusion, and pulmonary function, from regulating airway muscle tone to modulating the inflammatory response. Hormones play an important role in the growth and development of lung tissues, influencing them from early stages through infancy, childhood, adolescence, and into adulthood. Glucocorticoids, thyroid hormones, insulin, ghrelin, leptin, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), retinoids, cholecalciferol sex steroids, hormones derived from adipose tissue, factors like insulin, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and glucagon are key players in modulating respiratory mechanics and inflammation. While ample evidence underscores the impact of hormones on lung development and function, along with sex-related differences in the prevalence of respiratory disorders, further research is needed to clarify their specific roles in these conditions. Further research into the mechanisms underlying hormonal effects is essential for the development of customizing therapeutic approaches for respiratory diseases. Understanding the impact of hormones on lung function could be valuable for developing personalized monitoring approaches in both medical and surgical pediatric settings, in order to improve outcomes and the quality of care for pediatric patients.

    Keywords: lung development, Lung function, Hormones, lung growth, lung disorders, Children, sex hormones

    Received: 29 Apr 2024; Accepted: 29 Aug 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Pelizzo, Calcaterra, Baldassarre, Marinaro, Taranto, Ceresola, Capelo, Gazzola and Zuccotti. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Valeria Calcaterra, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.