Beneficial and deleterious effects of female sex hormones, oral contraceptives, and phytoestrogens by immunomodulation on the liver

Luis E. Soria-Jasso, Raquel Cariño-Cortés, Víctor Manuel Muñoz-Pérez, Elizabeth Pérez-Hernández, Nury Pérez-Hernández, Eduardo Fernández-Martínez

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

The liver is considered the laboratory of the human body because of its many metabolic processes. It accomplishes diverse activities as a mixed gland and is in continuous cross-talk with the endocrine system. Not only do hormones from the gastrointestinal tract that participate in digestion regulate the liver functions, but the sex hormones also exert a strong influence on this sexually dimorphic organ, via their receptors expressed in liver, in both health and disease. Besides, the liver modifies the actions of sex hormones through their metabolism and transport proteins. Given the anatomical position and physiological importance of liver, this organ is evidenced as an immune vigilante that mediates the systemic immune response, and, in turn, the immune system regulates the hepatic functions. Such feedback is performed by cytokines. Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines are strongly involved in hepatic homeostasis and in pathological states; indeed, female sex hormones, oral contraceptives, and phytoestrogens have immunomodulatory effects in the liver and the whole organism. To analyze the complex and interesting beneficial or deleterious effects of these drugs by their immunomodulatory actions in the liver can provide the basis for either their pharmacological use in therapeutic treatments or to avoid their intake in some diseases.

Original languageEnglish
Article number4694
JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences
Volume20
Issue number19
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Oct 2019

Keywords

  • Cholestasis
  • Cirrhosis
  • Cytokines
  • Immunomodulation
  • Liver
  • Oral contraceptives
  • Phytoestrogens
  • Sex hormones

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