EFFECTS OF TESTOSTERONE, ESTRADIOL AND PROGESTERONE ON IMMUNE REGULATION

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 47  (2) , 449-456
Abstract
Clinical observations on differences in the sexual incidence of diseases associated with defects of immune regulation, and of the occasional beneficial effects of pregnancy on disease course suggest that endocrine mechanisms may be important in the immunopathogenesis of these disorders. The in vitro effects of testosterone, estradiol and progesterone on selected aspects of immune regulation were studied in normal adults. The effects of these hormones on a mitogen-induced suppressor T-cell system and a monocyte mediated prostaglandin-producing suppressor cell system were studied. The addition of progesterone but not estradiol or testosterone to the concanavalin A (Con A) generation of T lymphocyte suppressor cells produced significantly increased suppressor cell activity (P < 0.005). Pre-incubation of lymphocytes with testosterone but not estradiol or progesterone in the absence of Con A resulted in the generation of modest but highly significant suppressor cell activity (P < 0.005). No effect on the prostaglandin-producing suppressor cell activity was observed. Thus, certain endocrine changes may alter immunoregulatory function and account for some of the clinical observations previously noted in diseases associated with defects of immune regulation.