Roy Souvik, Banerjee Diyasa, Banerjee Abhinaba, Choudhury Lopamudra
Postgraduate and Research Department of Biotechnology, St. Xavier's College (Autonomous), 30, Mother Teresa Sarani, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700016, India.
Department of Microbiology, Sarsuna College (Under Calcutta University), 4/HB/A, Ho-Chi-Minh Sarani, Sarsuna Upanagari, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700061, India.
Biol Futur. 2025 Nov 11. doi: 10.1007/s42977-025-00291-1.
The immune system is a complex network of cells and small molecules that play a crucial role in defending the body against pathogens and maintaining overall health. It has long been recognized that gonadal steroid hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, exert significant influences on immune responses, leading to gender-specific variations in immune function and disease susceptibility. This comprehensive review aims to provide a thorough analysis of the current knowledge regarding the interplay between sex hormones and immune responses, with a specific focus on gender differences. The article explores the fundamental mechanisms underlying the impact of sex hormones on the immune system, highlighting the intricate interactions between hormones and immune cells, including B- and T-lymphocytes and natural killer cells. Moreover, the review sheds light on the dynamic changes in sex hormone levels throughout one's lifespan and their potential implications on immune functions at different developmental stages, including puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. Notably, the role of sex steroid hormones in modulating innate and adaptive immune responses, cytokine production, immune cell trafficking, and immune-mediated tissue damages are also reviewed here. Importantly, the potential of these findings in the development of personalized medicine is huge, as understanding the intricate relationship between sex hormones and immune responses could lead to the design of targeted therapeutic interventions that consider gender-specific factors. In conclusion, this review details the crucial role of sex hormones in shaping immune responses and highlights the profound impact of gender on immune-related diseases.
免疫系统是一个由细胞和小分子组成的复杂网络，在保护身体免受病原体侵害和维持整体健康方面发挥着关键作用。长期以来，人们已经认识到性腺类固醇激素，如雌激素、孕激素和睾酮，对免疫反应有重大影响，导致免疫功能和疾病易感性存在性别差异。这篇全面综述旨在对目前关于性激素与免疫反应之间相互作用的知识进行深入分析，特别关注性别差异。本文探讨了性激素对免疫系统产生影响的基本机制，强调了激素与免疫细胞（包括B淋巴细胞、T淋巴细胞和自然杀伤细胞）之间的复杂相互作用。此外，该综述还揭示了一生中性激素水平的动态变化及其在不同发育阶段（包括青春期、孕期和更年期）对免疫功能的潜在影响。值得注意的是，本文还综述了性类固醇激素在调节固有免疫和适应性免疫反应、细胞因子产生、免疫细胞运输以及免疫介导的组织损伤中的作用。重要的是，这些发现对于个性化医学的发展潜力巨大，因为了解性激素与免疫反应之间的复杂关系可能会促成考虑性别特异性因素的靶向治疗干预措施的设计。总之，这篇综述详细阐述了性激素在塑造免疫反应中的关键作用，并强调了性别对免疫相关疾病的深远影响。
