The role of immunology in gynaecological endocrinology: a literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18597/rcog.318Keywords:
GnRH, oestrogen, androgen, cytokine, interleukin, chemokine, lymphocyte, ovulation, prostaglandinAbstract
Objectives: reviewing the association between different immune mechanisms and endocrine events necessary for regulating human reproduction.
Methodology: this was a qualitative systematic review which involved consulting databases like OVID,Medline(Pubmed-MeSH),selectingarticles from 1984 to 2009 referring to animal and human studies demonstrating the relationship of steroids and the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) with the immune system, as well as their expression in some autoimmune illnesses.
Results: many experimental studies in animals have demonstrated an association among the immune system and different neuroendocrine axes regulating human reproduction. Even though the definitive mechanisms have not yet been elucidated in humans, it has been found that GnRH and sexual steroids have an effect at immune system programming level and on their modulation. Interleukin-1 also plays an important role in regulating the hypothalamus-hypophysis-gonad axis and other axes involved in the reproduction.
Conclusions: the sexual steroids and GnRH are immune response modulators in such a way that they may stimulate it or have an immunosuppressor role. Immune systems like interleukin (IL-1) have antigonadotropic action at central level and a steroidogenic effect at ovarian level; they are related to the adrenal axis and thyroid activity, ovulation, luteous body formation and regression, all being important processes in reproduction.
Author Biographies
Ivonne Díaz-Yamal
Carolina Ruiz-Wagner
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