ESTROGENS, THE IMMUNE-RESPONSE AND AUTOIMMUNITY

Estrogens appear to play a central role in the immune response and imm une-mediated diseases. Recent studies have shown the presence of estro gen receptors on the cells involved in the immune response, namely thy mocytes, macrophages and endothelial cells. Particular attention has b eer focused on the dose-dependent influence of estrogen on the immune response, which appears to be related to the clinical symptoms of auto immunity (i.e. the effects of pregnancy or oral contraceptive pills). The influence of estrogens on cytokine production by target cells, thr ough interference with their transcriptional activity has also been th e focus of various studies. The effect of estrogens on the expression of the proto-oncogenes and oncosuppressor genes involved in programmed cell death (apoptosis) might also be relevant to human autoimmunity, in particular the uncontrolled synovial lining cell hyperplasia associ ated with rheumatoid arthritis and the prolonged T-cell survival in sy stemic lupus erythematosus. Estrogen-induced immunomodulation is a sub ject of growing interest and stimulating research.