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Abstract The immune system is a complex system of organs with highly specialized cells that circulate in lymph fluid for protection from infection and other foreign irregularities. Sex hormones are group of steroid hormones concerned mainly for development of secondary sex characters which differentiate males from females and controlling reproduction in both sexes.<The immune response is dimorphic, with females mounting stronger immune responses following infection or immunization and being more susceptible to autoimmune disease than males. Sex hormones modulate the immune response by influencing lymphocyte development. This may result from direct binding of sex hormones to receptors on the immune cells or indirectly by acting on somatic cells at the site of lymphocyte maturation and differentiation. The effect of sex hormones on the immune system is not an unidirectional effect as cytokines acting directly and indirectly on the pituitary axis and the gonads to affect the release of sex hormones. Disease expression is affected by the reproductive status; patients with immune-based diseases may have exacerbations during specific periods of the menstrual cycle or pregnancy. The data on the incidence of human autoimmune disease in adulthood show that females account for 65–75% of rheumatoid arthritis, Addison’s disease, and myasthenia gravis patients; 85% of Hashimoto thyroiditis and Grave’s disease patients; and >90% of SLE patients . Hyperprolactinemia has been demonstrated in multi-organ diseases and autoimmune diseases .In a number of autoimmune diseases the level of cortisol is subnormal. The reduced corticosteroid tone has a permissive effect in development of autoimmune disease. Corticosteroids antagonize the stimulatory effect of PRL. |