Endocrine–Immune Crosstalk in Human Reproductive Health and Pathology
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2026 | Viewed by 1687
Special Issue Editor
Interests: systemic lupus erythematosus; autoimmunity; therapy; treatment; biomarker
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue will focus on the intricate relationship between thyroid hormones, glucocorticoids, and the immune system in reproductive biology. The delicate orchestration of endocrine and immune signals plays a pivotal role in the regulation of reproductive function across sexes and species. This Special Issue aims to highlight emerging research at the intersection of thyroid hormones, glucocorticoids, and immune system dynamics within the context of reproductive health and disease, lactation, gender perspective, autoimmunity, and endocrinopathies. Thyroid hormones and glucocorticoids influence reproductive tissue, gonadal, and lactation development by integrating embryogenesis, growth, and stress responses with immunoregulation. The immune system, in turn, actively participates in processes such as implantation, placentation, and fetal tolerance. The crosstalk among these systems is increasingly recognized as critical for successful reproduction, yet the molecular mechanisms governing their interplay remain underexplored. We invite contributions that deepen our understanding of these relationships, from molecular pathways and animal models to translational studies addressing infertility, pregnancy complications, lactation, and developmental/gestational programming. By bringing together interdisciplinary perspectives, this issue seeks to advance both fundamental knowledge and clinical insights into endocrine–immune–reproductive integration.
This Special Issue aims to consolidate cutting-edge research elucidating the molecular and systemic crosstalk among thyroid hormone signaling, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis-derived glucocorticoids, and innate and adaptive immune pathways in reproductive physiology and pathology. THs orchestrate key events including folliculogenesis, spermatogenesis, gamete competence, and early embryonic development via the modulation of gene expression, mitochondrial biogenesis, and epigenetic remodeling. Concurrently, glucocorticoids influence reproductive outcomes by mediating stress-adaptive responses and fine-tuning cytokine milieu, leukocyte trafficking, and immune tolerance mechanisms essential for embryo implantation and placental development. Dysregulation in these hormonal axes and immune modulators underlies a spectrum of reproductive disorders, such as recurrent pregnancy loss, endometriosis, and subfertility. Contributions that integrate transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic approaches, utilize in vitro organoid and in vivo models, and explore translational implications in human reproductive medicine are strongly encouraged. Through this interdisciplinary lens, the issue aims to delineate key molecular targets and mechanistic pathways that govern endocrine–immune–reproductive axis homeostasis.
In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Sex steroids (estrogens, progesterone, and androgens) on T and B cell biology
- Stress response and glucocorticoids
- Prolactin, growth hormones, and glucocorticoids on thymic development
- Thyroid hormones on T and B cell biology
- Immunity during lactation, gestation, and neonatal development
- Endocrine modulation of immune cells during autoimmunity and immune-mediated diseases
Dr. Juan Pablo Mackern-Oberti
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
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Keywords
- T cells
- B cells
- autoimmune disease
- reproduction
- immunemodulation
- inflammation
- endocrinology
- lactation
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