Ovarian steroid hormones: effects on immune responses and Chlamydia trachomatis infections of the female genital tract

Mucosal Immunol. 2013 Sep;6(5):859-75. doi: 10.1038/mi.2013.46. Epub 2013 Jul 17.

Abstract

Female sex hormones are known to regulate the adaptive and innate immune functions of the female reproductive tract. This review aims to update our current knowledge of the effects of the sex hormones estradiol and progesterone in the female reproductive tract on innate immunity, antigen presentation, specific immune responses, antibody secretion, genital tract infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, and vaccine-induced immunity.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity
  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation
  • Antigen Presentation
  • Chlamydia Infections / immunology*
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / immunology*
  • Estradiol / immunology*
  • Female
  • Genitalia, Female / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Ovary / immunology*
  • Ovary / microbiology
  • Progesterone
  • Vaccines

Substances

  • Vaccines
  • Progesterone
  • Estradiol