REVIEW - Sex hormones and the genesis of autoimmunity

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Arch Dermatol. 2006;142:371-376.

Vol. 142 No. 3, March 2006

Review

Sex Hormones and the Genesis of Autoimmunity

Background

The sexually dimorphic prevalence of autoimmune disease

remains one of the most intriguing clinical observations among this group of

disorders. While sex hormones have long been recognized for their roles in

reproductive functions, within the past 2 decades scientists have found that

sex hormones are integral signaling modulators of the mammalian immune

system. Sex hormones have definitive roles in lymphocyte maturation,

activation, and synthesis of antibodies and cytokines. Sex hormone

expression is altered among patients with autoimmune disease, and this

variation of expression contributes to immune dysregulation.

Observations

English-language literature from the last 10 years was

reviewed to examine the relationship between sex hormones and the function

of the mammalian immune system. Approximately 50 publications were included

in this review, and the majority were controlled trials with investigator

blinding that compared both male and female diseased and normal subjects.

The review provided basic knowledge regarding the broad impact of sex

hormones on the immune system and how abnormal sex hormone expression

contributes to the development and maintenance of autoimmune phenomena, with

a focus on systemic lupus erythematosus, as models of " lupus-prone " mice are

readily available.

Conclusions

Sex hormones affect the function of the mammalian immune

system, and sex hormone expression is different in patients with systemic

lupus erythematosus than in healthy subjects. Sex hormones play a role in

the genesis of autoimmunity. Future research may provide a therapeutic

approach that is capable of altering disease pathogenesis, rather than

targeting disease sequelae.

http://archderm.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/142/3/371

Not an MD