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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2009 Mar 1.
Published in final edited form as: Cell Immunol. 2008 Mar 7;252(1-2):7–15. doi: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2007.09.009

Table I. Effects of neuroendocrine factors (steroid hormones) on immune and non-immune processes in the host.

As estrogens and mineralocorticoids have been shown to have immunostimulatory effects at lower concentrations, the referenced actions on immune cell activity include experiments using elevated concentrations of the hormone.

Steroid Hormone Example Function (Non-Immune) Function (Immune)
Androgens Testosterone, Dihydrotestosterone Development of 2nd sexual characteristics (male) Apoptosis of monocyte populations (Ref. 34)
Estrogens 17β-estradiol, Estriol Development of 2nd sexual characteristics (female) Suppression of neutrophil activity (Ref. 22)
Glucocorticoids Cortisol, Cortisone Glucose metabolism, maturation of lung during fetal development Proinflammatory cytokine inhibition, immune cell apoptosis (Ref. 56)
Mineralocorticoids Androstenedione Maintenance of salt-water balance Reduction of peripheral blood neutrophils (Ref. 19)
Progestins Progesterone Embryo implantation, maintenance of pregnancy Obstruction of neutrophil recruitment (Ref. 25)