The ways in which androgens and estrogens affect the immune system and their molecular mechanisms: The three ways in which sex hormones act on the immune system are: (1) changing the phenotype and cell function of T and B cells; (2) Affect immunoglobulin level and immunoglobulin synthesis kinetics; (3) affect the synthesis of cytokines, and then enhance or weaken the immune response.
The homomolecular mechanism of sex hormones is that free sex hormones enter the target cells through passive diffusion and combine with specific receptors to form complexes. After a series of changes, receptor molecules are activated, and then they bind to specific DNA fragments with high affinity. As a transcription factor, this fragment transcribes the corresponding ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and then translates it into an active protein, resulting in biological effects. Whether there are androgen receptors in immune organs is still controversial, but it has been confirmed that there are estrogen receptors in human thymocytes, T lymphocytes and synovial macrophages.
As early as 1500 BC, people noticed the thymus of animals and people, but they didn't know its significance. 196 1 year, Australian immunologist J.F.A.P.Miller discovered the immune function of thymocytes. Thymus is considered as the central lymphoid organ for cultivating T lymphocytes.
In 1970s, people noticed that the growth and development of thymus changed with the growth and development of animals and people. Moreover, experiments have proved that both female and male estrogens can induce atrophy of peripheral lymphoid organs, and both male and female animals can have hyperplasia of thymus and spleen after castration. This suggests that androgen and estrogen may have inhibitory effects on immunity.
In 1980s, because clinical epidemiological evidence showed that women were more susceptible to autoimmune diseases, it was generally believed that estrogen could enhance the immune response, while androgen inhibited it.
65438-0987 The research report of john young of Shandong University and his tutor Wang Long showed that the effect of androgen on immune function showed a dose-effect relationship, that is, at high dose of testosterone, it showed the effect of promoting B lymphocytes to produce antibodies; At low dose of testosterone, T lymphocyte transformation and macrophage function changed obviously. However, after orchiectomy, the transformation rate of T lymphocytes in animals was significantly improved, and the antibody production of B lymphocytes and the phagocytic function of macrophages remained unchanged. Therefore, two scholars put forward: "We can't generally say that androgen can promote or inhibit immune function. We must pay attention to the dosage of hormones and use various indicators to explain the exact impact on immune function. "
/kloc-in the winter of 0/989, Chialu used methyltestosterone (a synthetic androgen) to treat a cold (the cause was not confirmed, only blood routine was done). Adults take methyltestosterone three times a day, 1 time, 1 tablet. Most of the treated patients disappeared after taking 1-2 days. 1992 wrote a case report and published it in the No.1 10 issue of Shandong Medicine. He and I used this hormone to treat chronic rhinitis and chronic bronchitis, and the effect was obvious.
In the 1990s, the experimental research and clinical reports of androgen regulating immune function gradually increased, and there were many reports abroad that androgen was effective in treating AIDS. Some reports show that the number of CD4 cells in patients has increased.
During the SARS epidemic in China in 2003, Chi Aru suggested to relevant departments and experts that androgen should be used appropriately to treat SARS in order to improve the immunity of patients, improve symptoms and reduce pulmonary inflammatory reaction. On April 24th, China Medical Tribune published his suggestion. Later, when Health News published an article about medical professionals who treated SARS, it mentioned the use of androgens in its treatment review.
More and more literatures show that the regulation of androgen on immune function has dose-effect heterogeneity. It is believed that with the deepening of the understanding of androgen, it will play a wider medical role.