The Roles of Sex Hormones in the Course of Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by T helper 2 cell (Th2)-shifted abnormal immunity, skin barrier impairment, and pruritus. The prevalence of AD in childhood is slightly higher in boys than in girls; after puberty, the sexual difference is reversed. The fem...
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doaj-b7e3b5d53f9e449c882dda5919c071d12020-11-25T01:09:42ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1422-00672019-09-012019466010.3390/ijms20194660ijms20194660The Roles of Sex Hormones in the Course of Atopic DermatitisNaoko Kanda0Toshihiko Hoashi1Hidehisa Saeki2Department of Dermatology, Nippon Medical School, Chiba Hokusoh Hospital, Inzai, Chiba 270-1694, JapanDepartment of Dermatology, Nippon Medical School, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8602, JapanDepartment of Dermatology, Nippon Medical School, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8602, JapanAtopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by T helper 2 cell (Th2)-shifted abnormal immunity, skin barrier impairment, and pruritus. The prevalence of AD in childhood is slightly higher in boys than in girls; after puberty, the sexual difference is reversed. The female preponderance in all generations exists in intrinsic AD with enhanced Th1 activity and nickel allergy, lacking increased serum IgE or filaggrin mutation. AD is often deteriorated before menstruation. We review the effects of sex hormones on immune responses and skin permeability barrier and propose possible hypotheses for the above phenomena. After puberty, the immune responses of patients are remarkably influenced by sex hormones. Estrogen and progesterone enhance the activities of Th2/regulatory T cell (Treg) but suppress Th1/Th17. Androgens suppress Th1/Th2/Th17 and induce Treg. The skin permeability barrier is fortified by estrogen but is impaired by progesterone and androgens. Dehydroepiandrosterone suppresses Th2 but enhances Th1. The amount of steroid sulfatase converting dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate to dehydroepiandrosterone is higher in women than in men, and thus, women might be more susceptible to the influence of dehydroepiandrosterone. The balance of modulatory effects of sex hormones on immune responses and skin barrier might regulate the course of AD.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/20/19/4660atopic dermatitisestrogenprogesteroneandrogendehydroepiandrosteroneT helper 2 cellskin barrier |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Naoko Kanda Toshihiko Hoashi Hidehisa Saeki |
spellingShingle |
Naoko Kanda Toshihiko Hoashi Hidehisa Saeki The Roles of Sex Hormones in the Course of Atopic Dermatitis International Journal of Molecular Sciences atopic dermatitis estrogen progesterone androgen dehydroepiandrosterone T helper 2 cell skin barrier |
author_facet |
Naoko Kanda Toshihiko Hoashi Hidehisa Saeki |
author_sort |
Naoko Kanda |
title |
The Roles of Sex Hormones in the Course of Atopic Dermatitis |
title_short |
The Roles of Sex Hormones in the Course of Atopic Dermatitis |
title_full |
The Roles of Sex Hormones in the Course of Atopic Dermatitis |
title_fullStr |
The Roles of Sex Hormones in the Course of Atopic Dermatitis |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Roles of Sex Hormones in the Course of Atopic Dermatitis |
title_sort |
roles of sex hormones in the course of atopic dermatitis |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
issn |
1422-0067 |
publishDate |
2019-09-01 |
description |
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by T helper 2 cell (Th2)-shifted abnormal immunity, skin barrier impairment, and pruritus. The prevalence of AD in childhood is slightly higher in boys than in girls; after puberty, the sexual difference is reversed. The female preponderance in all generations exists in intrinsic AD with enhanced Th1 activity and nickel allergy, lacking increased serum IgE or filaggrin mutation. AD is often deteriorated before menstruation. We review the effects of sex hormones on immune responses and skin permeability barrier and propose possible hypotheses for the above phenomena. After puberty, the immune responses of patients are remarkably influenced by sex hormones. Estrogen and progesterone enhance the activities of Th2/regulatory T cell (Treg) but suppress Th1/Th17. Androgens suppress Th1/Th2/Th17 and induce Treg. The skin permeability barrier is fortified by estrogen but is impaired by progesterone and androgens. Dehydroepiandrosterone suppresses Th2 but enhances Th1. The amount of steroid sulfatase converting dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate to dehydroepiandrosterone is higher in women than in men, and thus, women might be more susceptible to the influence of dehydroepiandrosterone. The balance of modulatory effects of sex hormones on immune responses and skin barrier might regulate the course of AD. |
topic |
atopic dermatitis estrogen progesterone androgen dehydroepiandrosterone T helper 2 cell skin barrier |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/20/19/4660 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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