Dimorfismo sexual inmunitario: ？pueden los esteroides sexuales polarizar el perfil de citocinas Th1/Th2?

cytokine secretion is a crucial aspect in immune system modulation. the secretion pattern of these molecules determines the immune response type that will confront a particular antigen, and this pattern can be at least of two types. a thl pattern, effective to eliminate mainly intracellular pathogens and a th2 pattern, crucial to eradicate extra cellular pathogens. there are many immunological factors that affect expression of these proteins and auto regulate the th1/th2 balance, but there are few evidences about effect of other protagonists of mammals physiology. this review focuses on the regulation of the th1/th2 cytokine secretion pattern of immune cells by sexual steroids. the evidences indicate that cytokines and steroids form a common chemical language effective to keep the balance between immune and endocrine systems. alterations of this delicate network can explain different pathologies where gender-associated differences exist and where sexual steroids are crucial factors.