Autoimmune humoral responses

Biologies are sufficiently large and complex as to elicit immune responses directed to the protein. For the most part, the principal response elicited is a T cell-dependent humoral response. The development of an antibody response to a biologic in most cases has no adverse consequences (Schellekens 2002a Shankar et al. 2006). An antibody response is not an adverse event in itself. However, an antibody response to a biologic can have consequences that fall into three main categories hypersensitivity reactions, reduction in efficacy, and the induction of autoimmune disease (Schellekens 2002b). 

There is indirect evidence of sex differences in immunology. Women have a higher incidence of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. The influence of sex hormones on the immune system may provide insight into these immunological disorders. For example, estrogen stimulates both humoral and cell-mediated immunity, whereas testosterone has the opposite effect (126). Therefore, it is not surprising that there is sex-dependent variability in response to immunosuppressive agents. 

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