help button home button Endocrine Society JCEM
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a related Letter to the Editor
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Giltay, E. J.
Right arrow Articles by Gooren, L. J. G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Giltay, E. J.
Right arrow Articles by Gooren, L. J. G.
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 85, No. 4 1648-1657
Copyright © 2000 by The Endocrine Society

Original Studies

In Vivo Effects of Sex Steroids on Lymphocyte Responsiveness and Immunoglobulin Levels in Humans

E. J. Giltay, J. C. M. Fonk, B. M. E. von Blomberg, H. A. Drexhage, C. Schalkwijk and L. J. G. Gooren

Research Institute for Endocrinology, Reproduction, and Metabolism (E.J.G., L.J.G.G.), Departments of Pathology (J.C.M.F., B.M.E.B.) and Clinical Chemistry (C.S.), University Hospital Vrije Universiteit, 1007 MB Amsterdam; and Department of Immunology, Erasmus University (H.A.D.), Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Erik J. Giltay, M.D., Department of Endocrinology, Division of Andrology, University Hospital Vrije Universiteit, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. E-mail: giltay{at}dds.nl

The female predominance in several autoimmune diseases suggests a role for sex steroid hormones in disease susceptibility. We therefore investigated to what extent sex hormones would influence immune responsiveness. We analyzed T helper type 1 (TH1) and type 2 cytokine patterns, chemokine receptor expression (n = 2 x 10), and Ig levels (n = 2 x 25) in transsexual men and women before and after 4 months of cross-sex hormone administration. Antithyroperoxidase levels were compared between 186 transsexual males (treated >5 yr with estrogens) and 186 male controls.

In men, estrogens plus antiandrogens increased free cortisol levels in 24-h urine samples, decreased natural killer cell numbers, and slightly inhibited the mitogen-induced interferon-{gamma}/interleukin-4 ratio, but up-regulated the expression of TH1-associated chemokine receptors, CCR1, CXCR3, and CCR5. Conversely, in women, androgens slightly decreased free cortisol levels in 24-h urine samples and enhanced the mitogen-induced interferon-{gamma}/interleukin-4 ratio and tumor necrosis factor-{alpha} production. At the single cell level no TH1/TH2 shifts were found. Remarkably, up-regulation of TH1 cytokines was accompanied by down-regulation of CCR1, CXCR3, and CCR5 expression. Neither CD4+ lymphocyte numbers nor IgG, IgM, and antithyroperoxidase levels, although higher in women then in men, were affected by cross-sex hormonal treatment.

These results demonstrate that the capacity to develop a TH1 phenotype of peripheral blood lymphocytes is stimulated by androgens and is slightly inhibited by estrogens. These changes may be direct or indirect through the effects on other hormones.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Am. J. Pathol.Home page
D. Fairweather, S. Frisancho-Kiss, and N. R. Rose
Sex Differences in Autoimmune Disease from a Pathological Perspective
Am. J. Pathol., September 1, 2008; 173(3): 600 - 609.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Endocr. Rev.Home page
R. H. Straub
The Complex Role of Estrogens in Inflammation
Endocr. Rev., August 1, 2007; 28(5): 521 - 574.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am J Trop Med HygHome page
N. GALINDO-SEVILLA, N. SOTO, J. MANCILLA, A. CERBULO, E. ZAMBRANO, R. CHAVIRA, and J. HUERTO
LOW SERUM LEVELS OF DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE AND CORTISOL IN HUMAN DIFFUSE CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS BY LEISHMANIA MEXICANA
Am J Trop Med Hyg, March 1, 2007; 76(3): 566 - 572.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev.Home page
T. H.M. Keegan, S. L. Glaser, C. A. Clarke, R. F. Dorfman, R. B. Mann, J. A. DiGiuseppe, E. T. Chang, and R. F. Ambinder
Body Size, Physical Activity, and Risk of Hodgkin's Lymphoma in Women.
Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., June 1, 2006; 15(6): 1095 - 1101.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
S. T. Page, S. R. Plymate, W. J. Bremner, A. M. Matsumoto, D. L. Hess, D. W. Lin, J. K. Amory, P. S. Nelson, and J. D. Wu
Effect of medical castration on CD4+CD25+ T cells, CD8+ T cell IFN-{gamma} expression, and NK cells: a physiological role for testosterone and/or its metabolites
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, May 1, 2006; 290(5): E856 - E863.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 DiabetesHome page
W. M. Mlynarski, G. P. Placha, P. P. Wolkow, J. P. Bochenski, J. H. Warram, and A. S. Krolewski
Risk of Diabetic Nephropathy in Type 1 Diabetes Is Associated With Functional Polymorphisms in RANTES Receptor Gene (CCR5): A Sex-Specific Effect
Diabetes, November 1, 2005; 54(11): 3331 - 3335.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum Reprod UpdateHome page
A. Bouman, M. J. Heineman, and M. M. Faas
Sex hormones and the immune response in humans
Hum. Reprod. Update, July 1, 2005; 11(4): 411 - 423.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Immunol.Home page
R. Mo, J. Chen, A. Grolleau-Julius, H. S. Murphy, B. C. Richardson, and R. L. Yung
Estrogen Regulates CCR Gene Expression and Function in T Lymphocytes
J. Immunol., May 15, 2005; 174(10): 6023 - 6029.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Immunol.Home page
S. S. Soldan, A. I. A. Retuerto, N. L. Sicotte, and R. R. Voskuhl
Immune Modulation in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treated with the Pregnancy Hormone Estriol
J. Immunol., December 1, 2003; 171(11): 6267 - 6274.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am J EpidemiolHome page
S. L. Glaser, C. A. Clarke, R. A. Nugent, C. B. Stearns, and R. F. Dorfman
Reproductive Factors in Hodgkin's Disease in Women
Am. J. Epidemiol., September 15, 2003; 158(6): 553 - 563.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev.Home page
J. R. Cerhan, C. M. Vachon, T. M. Habermann, S. M. Ansell, T. E. Witzig, P. J. Kurtin, C. A. Janney, W. Zheng, J. D. Potter, T. A. Sellers, et al.
Hormone Replacement Therapy and Risk of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., November 1, 2002; 11(11): 1466 - 1471.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Child NeurolHome page
G. Haliloglu, B. Anlar, S. Aysun, M. Topcu, H. Topaloglu, G. Turanli, and D. Yalnizoglu
Gender Prevalence in Childhood Multiple Sclerosis and Myasthenia Gravis
J Child Neurol, May 1, 2002; 17(5): 390 - 392.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Endocr. Rev.Home page
A. F. Muller, H. A. Drexhage, and A. Berghout
Postpartum Thyroiditis and Autoimmune Thyroiditis in Women of Childbearing Age: Recent Insights and Consequences for Antenatal and Postnatal Care
Endocr. Rev., October 1, 2001; 22(5): 605 - 630.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals
Copyright © 2000 by The Endocrine Society