Sex steroids as inflammatory regulators.
It is becoming increasingly clear that endogenous sex steroids are key players in a range of inflammatory contexts. Androgens and estrogens have been shown to have a profound influence on the function of inflammatory cells including macrophages and on the secretion and activation of a range of plasma-borne inflammatory mediators. The menopause and polymorphisms in estrogen receptor genes have separately been shown to affect the incidence of a range of inflammatory disorders. Sex steroids themselves have been shown to be protective in certain conditions; harmful in others. This review will summarize their documented effects on inflammatory processes, with particular focus on two areas that have received much recent attention: the antiatherosclerotic properties of estrogens in females and the wound healing effects of sex steroids.
Gilliver
Stephen C
SC
University of Manchester, UK. stephen.gilliver@manchester.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D008593:Menopause / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014945:Wound Healing
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones