TY - JOUR
T1 - Approach to the study of the role of sex hormones in autoimmunity
AU - Steinberg, Alfred D.
AU - Melez, Kathleen A.
AU - Raveche, Elizabeth S.
AU - Reeves, J. Patton
AU - Boegel, William A.
AU - Smathers, Patricia A.
AU - Taurog, Joel D.
AU - Weinlein, Lisa
AU - Duvic, Madeleine
PY - 1979/11
Y1 - 1979/11
N2 - Investigators from this laboratory have been studying sex hormones in normal and autoimmune mice for the past 10 years. We have found that immune responses to DNA are influenced by sex hormones. Androgens reduce and estrogens increase both spontaneous and immunization‐induced antibodies to single‐stranded DNA in NZB x NZW, NZB x C3H, NZB x CBA, NZB x DBA mice. Treatment of female NZB/W mice with testosterone or 5 α dihydrotestosterone retards the progress of autoimmunity. Castration is not necessary for this effect. In contrast, danazol has no favorable effect on the disease process. Estrogens cause a marked acceleration of autoimmunity and a reduction in thymus weight. During the course of these studies, we found that a number of problems or variables arise in studying sex hormone effects, including: 1) X‐linked genes, 2) metabolism of testosterone to estrogens, 3) dose of hormone, 4) age at which administration is initiated, 5) differential effects of sex hormones on different autoantibodies and various immune responses.
AB - Investigators from this laboratory have been studying sex hormones in normal and autoimmune mice for the past 10 years. We have found that immune responses to DNA are influenced by sex hormones. Androgens reduce and estrogens increase both spontaneous and immunization‐induced antibodies to single‐stranded DNA in NZB x NZW, NZB x C3H, NZB x CBA, NZB x DBA mice. Treatment of female NZB/W mice with testosterone or 5 α dihydrotestosterone retards the progress of autoimmunity. Castration is not necessary for this effect. In contrast, danazol has no favorable effect on the disease process. Estrogens cause a marked acceleration of autoimmunity and a reduction in thymus weight. During the course of these studies, we found that a number of problems or variables arise in studying sex hormone effects, including: 1) X‐linked genes, 2) metabolism of testosterone to estrogens, 3) dose of hormone, 4) age at which administration is initiated, 5) differential effects of sex hormones on different autoantibodies and various immune responses.
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U2 - 10.1002/art.1780221103
DO - 10.1002/art.1780221103
M3 - Article
C2 - 508371
AN - SCOPUS:0018622846
SN - 0004-3591
VL - 22
SP - 1170
EP - 1176
JO - Arthritis & Rheumatism
JF - Arthritis & Rheumatism
IS - 11
ER -