title: Sex hormones and autoimmunity.
abstract: Autoimmune diseases occur more in women than in men, and this may be attributable to the role of estrogens. Androgens promote autoimmune diseases with a profile of type 1 cytokines, such as rheumatoid arthritis, whereas estrogens promote autoimmune diseases with a type 2 cytokine profile, like systemic lupus erythematosus. Both androgens and estrogens regulate the Th1/Th2 balance. Type 1 autoimmune diseases are improved when decrease type 1 cytokines (i.e. during fasting), or when there is a rise in type 2 cytokines (increased estrogens, as in pregnancy). Type 2 autoimmune diseases improve when type 2 cytokines are diminished (decreased estrogen, as in post-partum period) or when type 1 response is stimulated.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit of University Hospital Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Tenerife, Spain. delia38204@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Delia Almeida
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Buenaventura Brito
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: María del Cristo
authors.initials: Mdel C
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Pérez
authors.forename: Ana González
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: B Nicolás Díaz
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Chico
authors.forename: Antonio Cabrera
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: de León
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D015551:Autoimmunity; D004967:Estrogens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology; D012737:Sex Factors; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens