title: Influence of steroid hormones on proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Sex steroids are believed to modulate the immune system in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Since receptors for sex steroids are present on T-lymphocytes, which are thought to play a major role in the pathogenesis of RA, it is suggested that gonadal steroids can mediate their immunomodulating effect directly on T-lymphocytes. Recently a specific method for activating T-lymphocytes with immobilized anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies was described. We investigated the influence of oestradiol, progesterone, testosterone and cortisol on lymphocytes stimulated by anti-CD3 mAb and PHA of postmenopausal women, comparing female patients with rheumatoid arthritis and age-matched control patients. The results show that oestradiol, progesterone and testosterone do not influence lymphocyte proliferation when stimulated with anti-CD3 mAb or phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). Cortisol, however, can suppress lymphocyte proliferation even at physiological concentrations in both patients with RA and controls. Inhibition of proliferation by cortisol is dose-related and has no significant correlation with RA disease activity. This inhibition differs individually and might explain the often variable response to corticosteroids in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: van den Brink
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: van Wijk
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bijlsma
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017252:CD3 Complex; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D006854:Hydrocortisone