Sex Hormones and the Immune System: Implications for Menopause and Autoimmunity

2002 ◽  
pp. 75-83
Author(s):  
Gil Mor
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Sex Hormones

Sex hormones and immune system: a possible interplay in affective disorders? A systematic review.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Lombardo ◽  
Valeria Mondelli ◽  
Paola Dazzan ◽  
Carmine M. Pariante
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Sex Hormones ◽  
Affective Disorders ◽  
System A

scholarly journals Toll-Like Receptors Represent an Important Link for Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Aging and Diseases

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cinthya Echem ◽  
Eliana H. Akamine
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Cardiovascular Diseases ◽  
Cardiovascular System ◽  
Sex Hormones ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Hormonal Changes ◽  
Toll Like Receptors ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Cardiovascular Aging

Human life span expectancy has increased, and aging affects the organism in several ways, leading, for example, to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Age-adjusted prevalence of the cardiovascular diseases is higher in males than females. Aging also affects the gonadal sex hormones and the sex differences observed in cardiovascular diseases may be therefore impacted. Hormonal changes associated with aging may also affect the immune system and the immune response is sexually different. The immune system plays a role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. In this context, toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a family of pattern recognition receptors of the immune system whose activation induces the synthesis of pro-inflammatory molecules. They are expressed throughout the cardiovascular system and their activation has been widely described in cardiovascular diseases. Some recent evidence demonstrates that there are sex differences associated with TLR responses and that these receptors may be affected by sex hormones and their receptors, suggesting that TLRs may contribute to the sex differences observed in cardiovascular diseases. Recent evidence also shows that sex differences of TLRs in cardiovascular system persists with aging, which may represent a new paradigm about the mechanisms that contribute to the sex differences in cardiovascular aging. Therefore, in this mini review we describe the latest findings regarding the sex differences of TLRs and associated signaling in cardiovascular diseases during aging.

Do facial structural characteristics communicate information about health?

2001 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd K. Shackelford ◽  
Randy J. Larsen
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
University Students ◽  
Sex Hormones ◽  
Recovery Time ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Facial Features ◽  
Cardiac Recovery ◽  
Physiological Fitness ◽  
Future Work

High levels of sex hormones may lower immunocompetence, making it difficult for a person’s body to fight off infections. Facial characteristics that reveal high levels of sex hormones might signal the presence of a robust immune system. In men, high testosterone levels are associated with prominent cheekbones, wide jaw, and long chin. In women, high estrogen levels are associated with prominent cheekbones, narrow jaw, and short chin. We examined whether facial features associated with immunocompetence positively covary with health. Participants from 2 groups of university students (67 women, 34 men, in total) completed daily measures of psychological, emotional, and physical health over a one-month period. Physiological fitness was assessed via cardiac recovery time following exercise. A facial photograph of each participant was rated along several personality dimensions, activity level, and attractiveness. Using the photographs, we measured participants’ jaw width, chin length, and cheekbone prominence. Results provide unimpressive evidence for the hypotheses that (1) women displaying an estrogenized face and (2) men displaying a testosteronized face are physiologically, psychologically, and emotionally healthier. Discussion highlights directions for future work on whether facial structural characteristics might communicate information about underlying health.

Sex hormones influence on the immune system: basic and clinical aspects in autoimmunity

Lupus ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 635-638 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Cutolo ◽  
A Sulli ◽  
S Capellino ◽  
B Villaggio ◽  
P Montagna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Sex Hormones ◽  
Clinical Aspects

scholarly journals An overview of sex hormones in relation to SARS-CoV-2 infection

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marzieh Saei Ghare Naz ◽  
Mojdeh Banaei ◽  
Sareh Dashti ◽  
Fahimeh Ramezani Tehrani
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Sex Hormones ◽  
Web Of Science ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Different Seasons ◽  
Body Response

Aim: Sex differences in COVID-19 outcomes might be explained from a sex hormones (SexHs) perspective. Materials & methods: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE and Google Scholar were searched up to March 2021. Results: Based on the literature review, the crosstalk between SexHs (estrogens, progesterone and testosterone), their receptors (estrogen α and β, androgen, and progesterone) and the immune system shaped the sex-related differences in immune responses against COVID-19. Differential production of SexHs over the lifespan (during pregnancy, reproductive years, menopause and andropause) and over different seasons may result in disparities in body response toward COVID-19. Moreover, SexHs-specific differences might affect vaccine efficacy and response to treatment. Conclusion: The roles of SexHs need to be considered in vaccine development and even treatment of COVID-19.

Sex hormones and the immune system—part 2. Animal data

1990 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Ansar Ahmed ◽  
N. Talal
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Sex Hormones ◽  
Animal Data ◽  
System Part

scholarly journals Sex Hormones and Immune Dimorphism

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aruna Bhatia ◽  
Harmandeep Kaur Sekhon ◽  
Gurpreet Kaur
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Sex Hormones ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Reproductive System ◽  
Hormone Receptors ◽  
Review Article ◽  
The Body ◽  
Pathological Conditions ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Major Factors

The functioning of the immune system of the body is regulated by many factors. The abnormal regulation of the immune system may result in some pathological conditions. Sex hormones of reproductive system are one of the major factors that regulate immune system due to the presence of hormone receptors on immune cells. The interaction of sex hormones and immune cells through the receptors on these cells effect the release of cytokines which determines the proliferation, differentiation, and maturation of different types of immunocytes and as a result the outcome of inflammatory or autoimmune diseases. The different regulations of sex hormones in both sexes result in immune dimorphism. In this review article the mechanism of regulation of immune system in different sexes and its impact are discussed.

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