Ansar Ahmed S, Penhale W J, Talal N
Am J Pathol. 1985 Dec;121(3):531-51.
Immune reactivity is greater in females than in males. In both experimental animals and in man there is a greater preponderance of autoimmune diseases in females, compared with males. Studies in many experimental models have established that the underlying basis for this sex-related susceptibility is the marked effects of sex hormones. Sex hormones influence the onset and severity of immune-mediated pathologic conditions by modulating lymphocytes at all stages of life, prenatal, prepubertal, and postpubertal. However, despite extensive studies, the mechanisms of sex hormone action are not precisely understood. Earlier evidence suggested that the sex hormones acted via the thymus gland. In recent years it has become apparent that sex hormones can also influence the immune system by acting on several nonclassic target sites such as the immune system itself (nonthymic lymphoid organs), the central nervous system, the macrophage-macrocyte system, and the skeletal system. Immunoregulatory T cells appear to be most sensitive to sex hormone action among lymphoid cells. Several mechanisms of action of sex hormones are discussed in this review. The possibility of using sex hormone modulation of immune responses for the treatment of autoimmune disorders is a promising area for future investigation.
雌性的免疫反应性比雄性更强。在实验动物和人类中，与雄性相比，自身免疫性疾病在雌性中更为普遍。许多实验模型的研究表明，这种与性别相关的易感性的潜在基础是性激素的显著作用。性激素通过在生命的各个阶段，即产前、青春期前和青春期后调节淋巴细胞，影响免疫介导的病理状况的发生和严重程度。然而，尽管进行了广泛的研究，但性激素的作用机制尚未完全明确。早期证据表明性激素通过胸腺发挥作用。近年来，越来越明显的是，性激素还可以通过作用于几个非经典靶点来影响免疫系统，如免疫系统本身（非胸腺淋巴器官）、中枢神经系统、巨噬细胞 - 巨噬细胞系统和骨骼系统。免疫调节性T细胞似乎是淋巴细胞中对性激素作用最敏感的细胞。本文综述了性激素的几种作用机制。利用性激素调节免疫反应来治疗自身免疫性疾病的可能性是未来研究的一个有前景的领域。
