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Gonadal steroids and humoral immunity
Sanaz Sakiani1, Nancy J Olsen, William J Kovacs
1Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033-10850, USA.
Nature Reviews. Endocrinology
|November 28, 2012
Summary
Sex hormones significantly influence the humoral immune system. This review explores how estrogens and androgens impact B-cell development, immune tolerance, and antibody production, revealing key sex differences in immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
- Sex Differences in Immunity
Background:
- Humoral immune responses exhibit significant sex dimorphism, with females generally showing more robust antibody production and a higher propensity for autoreactive antibodies.
- Potential contributing factors include sex chromosome gene dosage, hormonal differences, and increased antigenic exposure in females.
- Gonadal steroids are known modulators of the immune system, with ongoing research elucidating their precise mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of how gonadal steroid hormones (oestrogens and androgens) modulate the humoral immune system.
- To examine the influence of these hormones on B-lymphocyte development and function.
- To highlight the impact on immune tolerance and antibody diversification processes.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating gonadal steroid hormone effects on the humoral immune system.
- Focus on B-lymphocyte biology, including development, tolerance, somatic hypermutation, and class switch recombination.
- Integration of knowledge from immunology, endocrinology, and molecular biology.
Main Results:
- Oestrogens and androgens differentially regulate B-lymphocyte production in the bone marrow.
- These hormones play critical roles in maintaining immune tolerance to self-antigens.
- Gonadal steroids influence key diversification processes like somatic hypermutation and class switch recombination in B cells.
Conclusions:
- Gonadal steroid hormones are crucial regulators of humoral immunity, contributing to observed sex differences.
- Understanding these hormonal influences is vital for explaining variations in vaccine responses and autoimmune disease prevalence.
- Further research into steroid- B cell interactions can inform therapeutic strategies for immune-related disorders.
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