title: Human choriogonadotropin (hCG) and placental lactogen (hPL) inhibit interleukin-2 (IL-2) and increase interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), -6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) expression in monocyte cell cultures.
abstract: The effect of the human trophoblast hormones chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and placental lactogen (hPL) on the expression of cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures was followed under a variety of culture conditions, (a) phytohemagglutinin stimulated cells (PHA-MSC), (b) allogenic mixed cells (AMC) and (c) spontaneously proliferating cells (SPC). A dose dependent enhanced release of IL-6, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha by hCG and hPL was observed under all culture conditions. However, an inhibitory effect on the IL-2 release was seen in PHA-MSC by hPL and in AMC by hPL and hCG. The role of the suppression of IL-2 production/release on cytotoxicity towards trophoblast is discussed. These results suggest a sensitive, dose dependent hormonal control of the modulation of the immune response during pregnancy and strengthen the concept of a distinct regulation of monocytes and lymphocyte subpopulation by trophoblast hormones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rudolf Virchow Hospital, Free University Berlin, Fed. Rep. of Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pauli
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Friedmann
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Dudenhausen
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D010928:Placental Lactogen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D010928:Placental Lactogen