title: Gender dimorphism in immune responses following trauma and hemorrhage.
abstract: Previous studies have shown marked immunosuppression in males after trauma and hemorrhage. By contrast, immunosuppression was not evident in proestrous female animals. Further support for these findings came from studies demonstrating the immunosuppressive effects of male sex hormones and immunoenhancing effects of female sex hormones. In this regard, administration of 17beta-estradiol or prolactin to male animals after trauma and hemorrhage significantly improved immune function. Furthermore, castration or androgen receptor blockade with flutamide after trauma and hemorrhage in male mice showed similar beneficial effects. Thus, regulation of sex hormone synthesis or their receptor activity appears to be a useful therapeutic approach for patients to cope with the deleterious sequelae of severe trauma and hemorrhage.
authors.affiliation: Center for Surgical Research and Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294-0019, USA.
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Martin G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Schwacha
authors.forename: T S Anantha
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Samy
authors.forename: Kirby I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Bland
authors.forename: Irshad H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Chaudry
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004967:Estrogens / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000276:immunology*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008297:Male; D018448:Models, Immunological; D011388:Prolactin / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D011388:Prolactin