Gonadal Steroids and Immunity*

Olsen, Nancy J.; Kovacs, William J.

doi:10.1210/edrv-17-4-369

Cited by 377 publications

(356 citation statements)

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“…It causes induction of IL-10 and blocking of IL-12 secretion by mononuclear cells in the decidua (4,14) as well as the induction of progesterone induced blocking factor (PIBF) which on its turn suppresses the cell cytotoxicity (13). Receptors for Pg have been detected on immunocompetent cells and in particular on dendritic cells (8) which may suggest that the hormone can modulate the functions of the dendritic cells. The aim of this study is to investigate the infl uence of Pg on the apoptosis and on IL-10 secretion by mDCs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Progesterone Increases Apoptosis and Interleukin 10 Secretion by Mature Monocyte Derived Dendritic Cells

Kyurkchiev

Ivanova‐Todorova

Altankova

2007

Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Progesterone Increases Apoptosis and Interleukin 10 Secretion by Mature Monocyte Derived Dendritic Cells

Kyurkchiev

Ivanova‐Todorova

Altankova

2007

Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment

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“…However, thymus expresses both estrogen receptor (ER) ␣ and ER␤, and estrogen treatment of developing rodents induces thymic atrophy and immune suppression (8,9). Despite genistein's affinity for ER␣ and ER␤, thymic effects of genistein have not been studied.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The phytoestrogen genistein induces thymic and immune changes: A human health concern?

Yellayi

Naaz

Szewczykowski

et al. 2002

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

225

165

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Use of soy-based infant formulas and soy͞isoflavone supplements has aroused concern because of potential estrogenic effects of the soy isoflavones genistein and daidzein. Here we show that s.c. genistein injections in ovariectomized adult mice produced doseresponsive decreases in thymic weight of up to 80%. Genistein's thymic effects occurred through both estrogen receptor (ER) and non-ER-mediated mechanisms, as the genistein effects on thymus were only partially blocked by the ER antagonist ICI 182,780. Genistein decreased thymocyte numbers up to 86% and doubled apoptosis, indicating that the mechanism of the genistein effect on loss of thymocytes is caused in part by increased apoptosis. Genistein injection caused decreases in relative percentages of thymic CD4 ؉ CD8 ؊ and double-positive CD4 ؉ CD8 ؉ thymocytes, providing evidence that genistein may affect early thymocyte maturation and the maturation of the CD4 ؉ CD8 ؊ helper T cell lineage. Decreases in the relative percentages of CD4 ؉ CD8 ؊ thymocytes were accompanied by decreases in relative percentages of splenic CD4 ؉ CD8 ؊ cells and a systemic lymphocytopenia. In addition, genistein produced suppression of humoral immunity. Genistein injected at 8 mg͞kg per day produced serum genistein levels comparable to those reported in soy-fed human infants, and this dose caused significant thymic and immune changes in mice. Critically, dietary genistein at concentrations that produced serum genistein levels substantially less than those in soy-fed infants produced marked thymic atrophy. These results raise the possibility that serum genistein concentrations found in soy-fed infants may be capable of producing thymic and immune abnormalities, as suggested by previous reports of immune impairments in soy-fed human infants. S oy-based formula for human infant nutrition is widely used, with approximately 25% of formula-fed infants in the U.S. consuming soy-based formula (1). This number represents 15% of all infants in the U.S., or about 750,000 infants͞year (1, 2). Infants consuming soy formula are exposed to high levels of genistein and daidzein, estrogenic isoflavones present in soybeans and soy products. On average, infants fed soy-based formula consume 6.0-11.9 mg of isoflavones͞kg per day (3, 4), an order of magnitude greater than adults eating high-soy diets. Total plasma levels of isoflavones and genistein in soy-fed infants range from 2.0 to 6.6 and 1.5 to 4.4 mol͞liter, respectively (3), 10-fold greater than levels in Japanese adults whose diets have historically included soy, and 200-fold greater than plasma levels in infants fed cow's milk formula or human breast milk (3, 5). Levels of the free genistein aglycone as a percent of total genistein are higher in rat pups than in adults (6), but have not been measured in human infants. If a similar phenomenon occurs in humans, relative levels of the biologically active free aglycones may be even greater than the 10-fold difference documented in total (free ϩ conjugated) serum isoflavone and genistein levels in...

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“…The thymus of male mice is enlarged after orchidectomy or under conditions of defective androgen action (Greenstein et al 1987). Androgen receptors are expressed by thymic epithelial cells and mediate androgen action on T cell development (reviewed in Olsen & Kovacs 1996, Olsen et al 2001. By 1936, Selye had already observed the marked involution of the thymus and adrenal hypertrophy after severe injury (Selye 1936).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantification of T cell receptor rearrangement excision circles to estimate thymic function: an important new tool for endocrine-immune physiology

Geenen

Poulin²,

Dion³

et al. 2003

Journal of Endocrinology

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Although the thymus constitutes a target organ for most protein and steroid hormones, it has been quite difficult to determine the precise control exerted in vivo by the endocrine system upon thymic function. The biological role of the thymus is to ensure the generation of a diversified population of peripheral T cells able to respond to non-self-antigens but nevertheless tolerant to selfantigens. For a long time, thymic function could not be monitored, as a consequence of the absence of adequate technology to differentiate recent thymic emigrants from naive T cells. The generation of T cell receptor (TCR) diversity occurs in the thymus through recombination of gene segments encoding the variable parts of the TCR and chains. During these processes, by-products of the rearrangements are generated in the form of TCR excision circles (TRECs). As these molecules are lost upon further cell division, their quantification is actually considered as a very valuable tool to estimate thymic function. The most appropriate TREC is Rec-J TREC or signal joint TREC resulting from Rec-J rearrangement (TCRD deletion) that occurs late during thymopoiesis, before V -J rearrangement. Here we describe how TREC quantification is a powerful and reliable method to evaluate the impact of hormones and endocrine disorders upon thymic function.

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Gonadal Steroids and Immunity*

Cited by 377 publications

References 0 publications

Progesterone Increases Apoptosis and Interleukin 10 Secretion by Mature Monocyte Derived Dendritic Cells

Progesterone Increases Apoptosis and Interleukin 10 Secretion by Mature Monocyte Derived Dendritic Cells

The phytoestrogen genistein induces thymic and immune changes: A human health concern?

Quantification of T cell receptor rearrangement excision circles to estimate thymic function: an important new tool for endocrine-immune physiology

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