The Open Infectious Diseases Journal
2009, 3 : 61-72Published online 2009 June 23. DOI: 10.2174/1874279300903010061
Publisher ID: TOIDJ-3-61
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Immunomodulation by the Female Sex Hormones
1
Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 27 Taylor Street, Glasgow G4 0NR, UK
2 School of Science and Engineering, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley PA1 2BE, UK
* Address correspondence to this author at the School of Engineering and Science, University of the West of Scotland , 1 High Street , Paisley , PA1 2BE , Scotland, UK. Tel: 0044 141 848 3119 ; E-mail: fiona.henriquez@uws.ac.uk
2 School of Science and Engineering, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley PA1 2BE, UK
* Address correspondence to this author at the School of Engineering and Science, University of the West of Scotland , 1 High Street , Paisley , PA1 2BE , Scotland, UK. Tel: 0044 141 848 3119 ; E-mail: fiona.henriquez@uws.ac.uk
ABSTRACT
Pregnancy is a highly regulated process, requiring strict control of the immune system in order to prevent rejection of the semiallogenic foetus. One aspect of pregnancy immunology that has been of great interest is the influence of female sex and pregnancy associated hormones, such as progesterone and oestrogen, on cells of the immune system.
This review evaluates studies investigating the ability of these hormones to modulate the function of cells of both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system and mechanisms by which immunity to infection can be altered due to increased levels of progesterone and oestrogen. Finally, the influence of pregnancy on the most common autoimmune diseases, on toxoplasmosis and on malaria is reviewed.