ABSTRACT
I. INTRODUCTION Sex hormones such as estrogen and prolactin are best known for their effects on reproductive tissue. It is now widely accepted, however, that there is a complex interplay between sex hormones and numerous organ systems and that sex hormones exert pleiotropic effects on multiple cell types. Of particular importance to the field of autoimmunity is the mounting evidence that sex hormones contribute to the sexual dimorphism observed in the immune system. It is well established that females typically mount a more vigorous immune response than males [1-3]. A consequence of this enhanced immunoresponsiveness may be the increased susceptibility of females to autoimmune diseases [4,5]. Despite emerging data implicating sex hormones in autoimmunity, the effects of sex hormones on the immune system are not well understood.
