Sex hormones, glucocorticoids and autoimmunity: facts and hypotheses

Increasing knowledge on the regulation of immune responses over the past decade has made it clear that the immune system is involved in complex interactions with most, if not all, of the biological systems responsible for normal homeostasis. The evidence for important interplays between the immune and endocrine systems has launched the whole new field of neuroimmunoendocrinology which has attracted the interest of scientists and clinicians alike. The mechanisms involved in the interactions between adrenal and gonadal steroids and the immune system are poorly understood, however, and further clarification could have important implications in the understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment of autoimmune diseases.