Sex-dependent induction of human suppressor T cells by chorionic gonadotropin.
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in physiological retroplacental concentration has been shown to induce human female lymphocytes which suppress the proliferation and differentiation of B cells stimulated by purified protein derivative of tuberculin. To test whether the hCG-induced suppression was sex dependent parallel experiments using female and male peripheral lymphocytes were performed. hCG did not induce cells capable of suppressing purified protein derivative induced B cell proliferation in lymphocytes from males, which was in contrast to lymphocytes from females where a statistically significant suppression was found. A similar hCG-induced suppressive effect was found before menarche, after the menopause and in two patients with Turner's syndrome, suggesting that a gene(s) on the Y chromosome exerts a regulatory function and thus prevents the hormone from inducing suppressor T cells.
D000375:Aging; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008353:Mannitol / Q000494:pharmacology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D014373:Tuberculin / Q000276:immunology; D014424:Turner Syndrome / Q000276:immunology
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D014373:Tuberculin; D008353:Mannitol