Trauma and immune response--effect of gender differences

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Endocrinology
• Trauma Research

Background:

• Traumatic injury often leads to immunosuppression, particularly in males and aged females.
• Immune function is maintained in proestrus females after trauma-hemorrhage, correlating with higher survival rates.
• Female sex hormones, such as 17beta-oestradiol, appear to prevent immune suppression post-trauma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review studies on the mechanisms by which sex hormones regulate immune cell function after trauma-hemorrhage.
• To explore the role of sex steroids in modulating host response to trauma.

Main Methods:

• Review of experimental studies on trauma-hemorrhage models.
• Analysis of immune cell function and survival rates across different sexes and hormonal states.
• Investigation of sex hormone synthesis and receptor expression in immune cells.

Main Results:

• Proestrus females exhibit maintained immune function and higher survival rates post-trauma-hemorrhage and sepsis.
• Administration of 17beta-oestradiol restores immune response in males and ovariectomized females after trauma-hemorrhage.
• Immune cells like T cells and macrophages express androgen and oestrogen receptors and can synthesize sex steroids.

Conclusions:

• Sex hormones play a critical role in modulating the host immune response to traumatic injury.
• Local synthesis of sex steroids within immune cells may significantly influence cytokine production and immune regulation post-trauma.