The risk and severity of specific infections are increased during pregnancy due to a
combination of physiological and immunological changes. Characterizing the maternal …

Sexual dimorphism refers to differences between biological sexes that extend beyond
sexual characteristics. In humans, sexual dimorphism in the immune response has been …

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is considered the largest immunological organ in the body
having a central role in regulating immune homeostasis. Contrary to earlier belief, the …

Simple Summary Human health is significantly affected by microbial infections. One of the
largest determinants of the outcomes of such infections is the host immune response. Too …

Analogous to other physiological systems, the immune system also demonstrates
remarkable sex differences. Although the reasons for sex differences in immune responses …

Glucocorticoid hormones regulate essential body functions in mammals, control cell
metabolism, growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. Importantly, they are potent suppressors …

This article is part of a Special Issue “Neuroendocrine-Immune Axis in Health and Disease.”
During pregnancy, it is evolutionarily advantageous for inflammatory immune responses that …

Psychosocial maternal stress experienced during different vulnerable periods throughout
gestation is thought to increase the individual's risk to develop neuropsychiatric …

Inflammation mediated by both innate and adaptive immune cells is necessary for several
important processes during pregnancy. Pro-inflammatory immune cell activation plays a …

Although individual behaviors have not been proven to have a strong influence on the risk of
preterm birth, consistent evidence suggests that a constellation of favorable lifestyle factors …