AUTHOR=Gubbels Bupp Melanie R. , Jorgensen Trine N. 

TITLE=Androgen-Induced Immunosuppression

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2018.00794

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2018.00794

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p>In addition to determining biological sex, sex hormones are known to influence health and disease <italic>via</italic> regulation of immune cell activities and modulation of target-organ susceptibility to immune-mediated damage. Systemic autoimmune disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis are more prevalent in females, while cancer shows the opposite pattern. Sex hormones have been repeatedly suggested to play a part in these biases. In this review, we will discuss how androgens and the expression of functional androgen receptor affect immune cells and how this may dampen or alter immune response(s) and affect autoimmune disease incidences and progression.</p>