Sex steroid hormones and macrophage function.
Macrophages are versatile cells whose activities are programmed by environmental signals. In this review, we discuss the potential impact of sex steroid hormones on macrophage activation and production of various effector molecules. The evidence accumulated to date supports the postulate that estrogens, progesterone, androgens and testosterone profoundly influence host defense by controlling the ability of macrophages to participate in immune responses.
Miller
L
L
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City 66160, USA. lancemil@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Hunt
J S
JS
D000728:Androgens / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D004967:Estrogens / Q000502:physiology; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology*; D013256:Steroids / Q000502:physiology*
D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D013256:Steroids