Possible mechanisms of gender bias in SLE: a new hypothesis involving a comparison of SLE with atopy

Abstract

The prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is far higher in females than in males, and numerous investigations of this gender bias have been performed from several perspectives. Sex hormones, particularly estrogens, may be significant in causing the gender discrepancy. This article discusses the possible importance of estrogens in regulating the expression of and responsivity to autoantigens in SLE and in atopic disorders, which are associated with hyperreactivity to exogenous antigens. Estrogens seem to play an important role in the overexpression of endogenous autoantigens, such as human endogenous retroviruses (HERV), and this may be related to the existence of a gender bias in the incidence of SLE but not atopy.

The type I interferon system in systemic lupus erythematosus

“…A role for HERV in SLE has also been postulated, because sex hormones, especially estrogens, appear to increase the expression of autoantigens such as HERV (88). This could contribute to the fact that the prevalence of SLE is higher in females than in males.…”

IL-18 105 A>C polymorphism contributes to renal manifestations in patients with SLE

“…Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune connective tissue disorder characterized by loss of self-tolerance causing immune-mediated tissue destruction and various clinical presentations [1,2]. Defective function of CD4 + T cells and abnormal activation of B cells results in autoantibody production and immune complex formation [3][4][5].…”

XRCC1 Arg399Gln Gene Polymorphism and the Risk of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in the Polish Population

“…ystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease, meaning that the body's tissues are attacked by the body's own immune system (Sekigawa et al, 2004). The incidence of this autoimmune disease is nine times greater in women of reproductive age than in men (Sekigawa et al, 2004).…”

“…The incidence of this autoimmune disease is nine times greater in women of reproductive age than in men (Sekigawa et al, 2004). The course of this disorder is unforeseeable, with periods of flare-ups occurring between periods of remission (Sekigawa et al, 2004).Patients with SLE display abnormalities in immune cells, including aberrant cytokine production and decreased activity of cytotoxic T cells, changes in CD4 + T cell function, and defective B cell activation (Grö ndal et al, 2000;Stohl et al, 2003;Crispín et al, 2010).…”