Sex hormones and autoimmunity.

Abstract

Autoimmune diseases occur more in women than in men, and this may be attributable to the role of estrogens. Androgens promote autoimmune diseases with a profile of type 1 cytokines, such as rheumatoid arthritis, whereas estrogens promote autoimmune diseases with a type 2 cytokine profile, like systemic lupus erythematosus. Both androgens and estrogens regulate the Th1/Th2 balance. Type 1 autoimmune diseases are improved when decrease type 1 cytokines (i.e. during fasting), or when there is a rise in type 2 cytokines (increased estrogens, as in pregnancy). Type 2 autoimmune diseases improve when type 2 cytokines are diminished (decreased estrogen, as in post-partum period) or when type 1 response is stimulated.

• Authors: Delia Almeida González, Buenaventura Brito Díaz, María del Cristo Rodríguez Pérez, Ana González Hernández, B Nicolás Díaz Chico, Antonio Cabrera de León
• Journal: Immunology letters (Immunol Lett) Vol. 133 Issue 1 Pg. 6-13 (Sep 06 2010) ISSN: 1879-0542 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 20637236 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Androgens
• Estrogens

Topics

• Androgens (immunology, metabolism)
• Animals
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid (epidemiology, immunology)
• Autoimmunity
• Estrogens (immunology, metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic (epidemiology, immunology)
• Male
• Pregnancy (immunology)
• Sex Factors
• Th1-Th2 Balance