title: Hormonal modulation of human natural killer cell activity in vitro.
abstract: This study investigates the effect of steroid and polypeptide hormones on human NK cell activity in vitro. Solutions of hormones were incubated with normal peripheral blood cells in a 4 h cytotoxic assay against the NK-sensitive erythromyeloid cell line K562. The steroid hormones oestradiol, progesterone and testosterone did not exhibit a significant effect on K562 lysis at concentrations within the normal physiological range. HCG and LH, however, had a marked effect on NK activity, the latter at concentrations within the range observed in normal menstruating females.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D006728:Hormones; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone