Humoral immunity in oral contraceptive users. II. In vitro immunoglobulin production.
The worldwide acceptance of steroid-based oral contraception makes it imperative that the effect of these agents on the immune system is understood. Nevertheless, information regarding the effect of steroid-based oral contraception on humoral immunoregulation is limited. In this report the in vitro production of IgG and IgM is measured following stimulation with either the T-dependent activator pokeweed mitogen (PWM) or the T-independent activator fixed/killed Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (StaCw). No significant differences are observed between the in vitro IgG or IgM levels following stimulation with PWM or StaCw for females taking steroid-based oral contraceptives and females not taking steroid-based oral contraceptives. We conclude that humoral immunoregulation is unaltered in steroid-based oral contraceptive users.
Bisset
L R
LR
Department of Microbiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Griffin
J F
JF
D000917:Antibody Formation; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M