Suppressive effects of androgens on the immune system
Abstract
Sex-based disparities in immune responses are well known phenomena. The two most important factors accounting for the sex-bias in immunity are genetics and sex hormones. Effects of female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone are well established, however the role of testosterone is not completely understood. Evidence from unrelated studies points to an immunosuppressive role of testosterone on different components of the immune system, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remains unknown. In this review we evaluate the effect of testosterone on key cellular components of innate and adaptive immunity. Specifically, we highlight the importance of testosterone in down-regulating the systemic immune response by cell type specific effects in the context of immunological disorders. Further studies are required to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of testosterone-induced immunosuppression, leading the way to the identification of novel therapeutic targets for immune disorders.
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Testosterone bound to androgen receptors can downregulate synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and stimulate secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines.
“When bound to androgen receptors, testosterone can downregulate synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines (D’Agostino et al., 1999; Li et al., 1993; Trigunaite et al., 2015), and stimulate secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines (Liva and Voskuhl, 2001).”
From Developmental psychoneuroendocrine and psychoneuroimmune pathways from childhood adversity to disease (2017) · cites this paper as Trigunaite et al., 2015
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- Authors
- Trigunaite, A., Dimo, J., & Jørgensen, T. N.
- Affiliations
- Cleveland Clinic (US)
- Corresponding author
- Trigunaite, Abhishek
- Jørgensen, Trine N.
- ORCID
- Jørgensen, Trine N.
- Venue
- Cellular Immunology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2015-04
- Volume
- 294
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 87-94
- ISSN
- 0008-8749 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2004181696
- Cited by
- 551
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 42 · 2025: 51 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 62 · 2022: 62 · 2021: 77 · 2020: 70 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 41 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 7
- FWCI
- 23.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cellular Immunology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Department of Defense
- Cleveland Clinic
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Estrogen and related hormone effects
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adrenal Hormones and Disorders
- Keywords
- testosterone, androgens, immunosuppression, sex differences in immunity, innate immunity, adaptive immunity, sex hormones, estrogen, progesterone, immune disorders
- MeSH terms
- B-Lymphocytes, Cell Differentiation, Dendritic Cells, Female, Humans, Immune Tolerance, Immunity, Innate, Macrophages, Male, Sex Characteristics, T-Lymphocytes, Testosterone, Down-Regulation, Adaptive Immunity
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