Sex hormones and modulation of immunity against leishmaniasis.
Sex-associated hormones such as estradiol, testosterone and progesterone have all been shown to modulate immune responses, which can result in differential disease outcomes between males and females, as well as between pregnant and nonpregnant females. Most parasitic diseases, including leishmaniasis, usually result in more severe disease in males compared with females. This review highlights our current knowledge concerning the role of sex hormones in modulating leishmaniasis in both clinical settings and experimental disease models.
Snider
Heidi
H
Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, 484 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Lezama-Davila
Claudio
C
Alexander
James
J
Satoskar
Abhay R
AR
D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D009569:Nitric Oxide