IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE COMPANIONATE THE MERCIFUL
Jan 02, 2016
IN THE NAME OF GOD,
THE COMPANIONATE THE MERCIFUL
Mahmoud Najafi
Gonadal SteroidsAnd Their Effect On
Immune Function
Gonadal Steroids
AndrogensEstrogensProgesterone
Woman have:
A more vigorous immune responseA more developed thymusHigher immunoglobulin concentrationStrong primary and secondary responsesMore resistance to the induction of
toleranceGreater ability to reject tumor and allograft
A higher female/male susceptibility ratio:
Systemic Lupus Erytematosus(10:1)Rheumatoid Arthritis(4:1)Multiple SclerosisMyasthenia GravisAutoimmune thyroid disease
Gonadal steroids and SLE
Decreased androgen/estrogen ratio (aggravated)– An increase aromatase activity– Pregnancy– Administration of estrogens containing
contraceptives
Increased androgen/estrogen ratio (ameliorated)– A therapeutic effect
Is aggravated by estrogens
Gonadal steroids and RA
Oral contraceptive and Pregnancy– Mitigate the development of the disease
The age of onset of RA in woman is 40-50 (Menopause)
Is ameliorated by estrogens
Animal Models
Female animal– More rapidly reject allograft transplanted– More vigorous immune response
• Humoral immunity• Cell mediated immunity
Female Rats
Administration of testosterone – Largely prevents the onset of autoimmune
disease– Castrated male demonstrate disease
acceleration
Thymectomy – Ablates beneficial effect of testosterone
Androgen and Estrogen binding site
ThymusBone MarrowPeripheral immune system Gonadectomy
– Hyperplasia of the thymus
The administration of exogenous androgen and estrogen– Thymic involution
Progenitor T & B lymphocytes
Sex steroids have receptor– Positive effect on T-cell lymphopoiesis– Negative effect on B-cell lymphopoiesis
• Ovarietomy Increase number of B-cell
T & B lymphopoiesis is suppressed during pregnancy
Influencing the function of mature T and B cells
Estrogen- Increase activity of CD4+ T cells- Decrease activity of CD8+ T cells- enhances IFN-γ (In vitro study)- Treatment by estrogen
• Increase the number of autoreactive immunoglobulin
Androgen- Have receptor on peripheral T and B cells
GnRH
Synthesis within the hypothalamusGnRH RNA has been detected in spleen & thymus T-cell has GnRH receptor
– May be involved in the maturation and senescence cells within the immune system
Pregnancy
Measure of cell-mediated immunity are suppressed
Humoral immunity is preserved or enhancedLevel of variety of cytokine declineElevated level of Glucorticoids
– Potent inhibitory of IFN-γ• Is a powerful abortifacient
Hypersensitivity and Pregnancy
Systemic Lupus Erytematosus – Type III Hypersensitivity – aggravated during the pregnancy
Rheumatoid Arthritis – Type IV Hypersensitivity – suppressed during the pregnancy
Hypersensitivity and Pregnancy
MS− Progesterone- Attenuate disease severity
• Reduce the inflammatory
response • Reduce demyelination in
the spinal cord
Bone metabolism
Estrogens & androgens– Bone protective effect– Decreased of inflammatory cytokines
• TNF• IL-1, IL-6
Bone loss in post-menopausal– Estrogen replacement therapy
Androgens
Anti-inflammatory- Receptors present on immune tissues- Immunosuppressive on both T & B cells- Decrease thymic mass- Suppress antibody response- Increase TGF-β
Estrogens
Pro or Anti-inflammatory (dependent on the disease)- Receptors present on immune tissues- Decrease thymic mass- Inhibit suppressive T-cells- Facilitate T-helper lymphocyte maturation- Stimulate B-cell mediated antibody response
Progesterone
Anti-inflammatory- Receptors present on some immune tissues