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Sex steroids, immune system, and parasitic infections: facts and hypotheses
Author(s) -
NavaCastro Karen,
HernándezBello Romel,
MuñizHernández Saé,
CamachoArroyo Ignacio,
MoralesMontor Jorge
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2012.06632.x
Subject(s) - biology , immune system , sexual dimorphism , immunity , parasite hosting , immunology , sex characteristics , sexual characteristics , helminths , host (biology) , incidence (geometry) , parasitic infection , physiology , zoology , ecology , endocrinology , physics , anatomy , world wide web , computer science , optics
It has been widely reported that the incidence and the severity of natural parasitic infections are different between males and females of several species, including humans. This sexual dimorphism involves a distinct exposure of males and females to various parasite infective stages, differential effects of sex steroids on immune cells, and direct effects of these steroids on parasites, among others. Typically, for a large number of parasitic diseases, the prevalence and intensity is higher in males than females; however, in several parasitic infections, males are more resistant than females. In the present work, we review the effects of sex hormones on immunity to protozoa and helminth parasites, which are the causal agents of several diseases in humans, and discuss the most recent research related to the role of sex steroids in the complex host–parasite relationship.