Hormone and immune response, with special reference to steroid hormone 1. A short review

Substantial evidence has been accumulated to support the gonadal regulation of immune functions. They are mainly based on the following observations: i) the existence of sexual dimorphism in immune response, ii) alteration of immune response by gonadectomy or sex steroid replacement, iii) alteration of immune response during pregnancy, and iv) existence of sex steroid receptors in the thymus tissue which affect T cell function through thymic hormones produced in the gland. In the present study, we have tried to review some of this evidence by adding our own findings. We also referred to the experimental findings which show that the thymus, brain and gonads are close-related functionally, and form a functional axis, the so-called "hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal-thymic" axis which is of great importance not only because it regulates immune response, but because its influence may extend to other organ system within the living body.