title: The in vitro response of turkey lymphocytes to steroid hormones.
abstract: The in vitro mitogen response of whole blood turkey lymphocytes to various concentrations of steroid hormones was evaluated. Corticosterone (COS) at concentrations between 1 and 80 ng/ml significantly suppressed the proliferative response (3H-thymidine incorporation) to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (ConA). Non-mitogen-stimulated (NMS) cells were suppressed at concentrations of COS above 5 ng/ml. Progesterone significantly suppressed NMS cells at concentrations of 80 ng/ml, PHA-stimulated cells at concentrations of 500 ng/ml, and ConA-stimulated cells at concentrations of 1000 ng/ml. beta-Estradiol enhanced the response of NMS cells at concentrations of 500 ng/ml, had no effect on PHA-stimulated cells, and suppressed the response of ConA-stimulated cells at concentrations greater than 500 ng/ml. Testosterone affected only the ConA response, causing suppression at concentrations above 2000 ng/ml. Corticosterone and progesterone caused 80 and 95% suppression, respectively, of the proliferative response to ConA when compared with non-hormone-treated cells. The possible implications of steroid hormone-induced immunosuppression in the pathogenesis of aspergillosis is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D006728:Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D014422:Turkeys / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D003345:Corticosterone