Sex hormone regulation of in vitro immune response. Estradiol enhances human B cell maturation via inhibition of suppressor T cells in pokeweed mitogen-stimulated cultures.

Abstract

Higher serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels are usually observed in females more than in males of several mammalian species, including man. Females also show a quantitatively and qualitatively enhanced capacity to produce antibodies after immunization (1-7). Moreover, during their fertile period, women have remarkably higher incidences of autoimmune diseases (8, 9). On the other hand, reports exist (10) indicating that males have stronger cell-mediated responses than females. These sexdependent differences in the mode and magnitude of immune reactivities are largely abolished by castration (11). A regulatory influence on the immune system has therefore been attributed to the main sex hormones (reviewed in 12).The cellular mechanisms involved in the sex hormone-induced immunomodulation are yet to be clarified. There are reports (13,14) indicating that estradiol displays its immunoregulatory effect through the thymus, but the relevant cellular target sites for sex hormone activity in the immune system are not known.We studied the effect of estradiol and testosterone on human blood lymphocytes in pokeweed mitogen (PWM)l-stimulated cultures. We found that addition of physiological concentrations ofestradiol to PWM cultures enhanced the B cell differentiation without affecting the proliferative response. This effect was not obtained with testosterone. Cell fractionation studies revealed that estradiol apparently displays its effect by inhibiting the activity of a suppressor T cell population. Materials and Methods Human Blood Lymphocytes.Human blood mononuclear leukocytes were purified from the buffy coats of 400-ml blood units obtained from healthy male and female volunteers and were *

Testosterone inhibits immunoglobulin production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

“…1 nM in females, it is suggested that testosterone may suppress immunoglobulin production also in vivo under normal conditions. On the other hand, oestrogen has been shown to augment humoral immune responses [1,7,11,12,33], and we also found that this hormone increased spontaneous immunoglobulin production by human PBMC in vitro at physiological concentrations (paper submitted). Collectively, these data suggest that human humoral immune responses may be controlled by the balance of these sex hormone levels.…”

“…Several studies also showed that testosterone treatment inhibited the progression of autoimmune diseases in mice [3][4][5][6][7][8] and chickens [9,10]. However, most of these studies used animal immune systems in vivo and there are few studies showing the in vitro effect of testosterone on human humoral immune responses [11,12]. Especially the cellular mechanisms for its effect have not been precisely elucidated.…”

Effects of age and gonadal steroids on the localization of antigen-presenting cells, and T and B cells in the chicken oviduct

“…It has also been reported that oestrogen increases the plasma concentration of Ig in broiler chicks (Leitner et al, 1996), and causes an increase in Ig-containing cells in the oviduct, whereas progesterone does not show such effects (Zheng et al, 1997). Studies in mice showed that oestrogen enhanced B-cell maturation and increased antibody production (Wira and Sandoe, 1980;Paavonen et al, 1981 (1997) reported that the population of Ig-containing cells in laying hens and immature hens treated with DES was higher at the two ends of the oviduct. It may be concluded that specific immune functions (humoral immunity and cell-mediated reactions) in the chicken oviduct are stronger in the infundibulum and vagina in both sexually matured hens and immature hens treated with sex steroids.…”

Bisfenol A’ya Maruz Bırakılmış Sıçanlarda İmmun Hücre sayısı, Plazma İmmunglobulin İçeriği ve INF-γ Gen Ekspresyonu

“…The immunological activities of BPA may be mediated through estrogen receptor signaling, arylhydrocarbon receptor, and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor family of nuclear receptors [5] . Estrogen was shown to have immunomodulatory effects, particularly with respect to humoral immunity, and immunosuppressive effects [6,7] , particularly with respect to cellular immunity [28] . More recent studies demonstrate that estrogen increases the secretion of IFN-γ from splenic lymphocytes, which play a major role in regulating the function of all key immune cells [8,9] .…”

“…It acts as endocrine disrupter with estrogenic activities in the body. Estrogen has stimulatory effects on humoral immune responses [6,7] . More recent studies demonstrate that estrogen increases the secretion of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) from splenic lymphocytes, which play a major role in regulating the function of all key immune cells [8,9] .…”