The Th1-Promoting Effects of Dehydroepiandrosterone Can Provide an Explanation for the Stronger Th1-Immune Response of Women
Estrogens foster immunological processes driven by CD4+ Th2 cells and B cells and androgens foster Th1 CD4+ and CD8+ cell activity. Higher levels of IFN-gamma and IL-2 and lower levels of IL-4 and IL-10 are detected in the phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocyte culture supernatants of men compared...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Tehran University of Medical Sciences
2009-03-01
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| Series: | Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology |
| Online Access: | https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/237 |
| _version_ | 1819058635402117120 |
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| author | Namazi Mohammad Reza |
| author_facet | Namazi Mohammad Reza |
| author_sort | Namazi Mohammad Reza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Estrogens foster immunological processes driven by CD4+ Th2 cells and B cells and androgens foster Th1 CD4+ and CD8+ cell activity. Higher levels of IFN-gamma and IL-2 and lower levels of IL-4 and IL-10 are detected in the phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocyte culture supernatants of men compared with women. It is documented that the physiologic levels of estrogens produced during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle shift the female immune system toward a Th2-type response and that the Th1 cytokines are increased in postmenopausal women. However, the Th1 immune response is also surprisingly stronger in women, hence affording them a better protection against infections. Nickel sensitivity, a Th1 immune reaction, seems to be more common in women even if men wear earrings. Further, not only the Th2 but also the Th1 autoimmune diseases are generally more common in women than men. How do women advance a stronger Th1 response than men? It is suggested that in contrast to the paradigm that estrogens lead to a Th2 bias, estrogens can enhance Th1 cytokine production also. However, the discrepant effects of estrogens are difficult to be reconciled from a molecular viewpoint and hence are not advocated by all authors. This paper provides an explanation: The effects of dehydroepiandrosterone on |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T13:58:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-610e5dcb350344b6ada3c4a2109b8e94 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1735-1502 1735-5249 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T13:58:20Z |
| publishDate | 2009-03-01 |
| publisher | Tehran University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology |
| spelling | doaj.art-610e5dcb350344b6ada3c4a2109b8e942022-12-21T19:01:27ZengTehran University of Medical SciencesIranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology1735-15021735-52492009-03-0181237The Th1-Promoting Effects of Dehydroepiandrosterone Can Provide an Explanation for the Stronger Th1-Immune Response of WomenNamazi Mohammad Reza 0Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranEstrogens foster immunological processes driven by CD4+ Th2 cells and B cells and androgens foster Th1 CD4+ and CD8+ cell activity. Higher levels of IFN-gamma and IL-2 and lower levels of IL-4 and IL-10 are detected in the phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocyte culture supernatants of men compared with women. It is documented that the physiologic levels of estrogens produced during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle shift the female immune system toward a Th2-type response and that the Th1 cytokines are increased in postmenopausal women. However, the Th1 immune response is also surprisingly stronger in women, hence affording them a better protection against infections. Nickel sensitivity, a Th1 immune reaction, seems to be more common in women even if men wear earrings. Further, not only the Th2 but also the Th1 autoimmune diseases are generally more common in women than men. How do women advance a stronger Th1 response than men? It is suggested that in contrast to the paradigm that estrogens lead to a Th2 bias, estrogens can enhance Th1 cytokine production also. However, the discrepant effects of estrogens are difficult to be reconciled from a molecular viewpoint and hence are not advocated by all authors. This paper provides an explanation: The effects of dehydroepiandrosterone onhttps://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/237 |
| spellingShingle | Namazi Mohammad Reza The Th1-Promoting Effects of Dehydroepiandrosterone Can Provide an Explanation for the Stronger Th1-Immune Response of Women Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology |
| title | The Th1-Promoting Effects of Dehydroepiandrosterone Can Provide an Explanation for the Stronger Th1-Immune Response of Women |
| title_full | The Th1-Promoting Effects of Dehydroepiandrosterone Can Provide an Explanation for the Stronger Th1-Immune Response of Women |
| title_fullStr | The Th1-Promoting Effects of Dehydroepiandrosterone Can Provide an Explanation for the Stronger Th1-Immune Response of Women |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Th1-Promoting Effects of Dehydroepiandrosterone Can Provide an Explanation for the Stronger Th1-Immune Response of Women |
| title_short | The Th1-Promoting Effects of Dehydroepiandrosterone Can Provide an Explanation for the Stronger Th1-Immune Response of Women |
| title_sort | th1 promoting effects of dehydroepiandrosterone can provide an explanation for the stronger th1 immune response of women |
| url | https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/237 |
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