Elucidating the immunomodulatory effects of phytoestrogens and their groundbreaking applications in transplantation medicine

Phytoestrogens are natural compounds found in plants and plant-based foods. When ingested, they can affect the human body in the same way as estrogen produced by the body. Phytoestrogens affect the regulation, differentiation, and production of immune cells. People who consume polyphenol and flavonoid-rich foods have lower incidences of inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. In organ transplantation, immune rejection is a lifelong problem for patients. In clinical practice, acute rejection is treated with hormonal shock or immunosuppressive drugs. However, effective reversal measures for chronic rejection, specifically for prevention, are still lacking. Recipients are also prone to post-transplant complications such as new tumors, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hyperuricemia, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, owing to the long-term use of immunosuppressive drugs. Phytoestrogens play a promising role in immune regulation and exert curative effects on cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In this study, we reviewed the use of phytoestrogens in the fields of immune regulation and organ transplantation.