Female sex hormones modulate the function of LPS-treated macrophages.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of estradiol (E2) or progesterone on macrophage function in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS).


METHODS
Male rat peritoneal macrophages were treated in vitro with 0.1 microg/mL of LPS and E2 or progesterone.


RESULTS
At 10(-2) ng/mL, E2 significantly (P < 0.05; n = 6) enhanced tumor necrosis factor (TNF) release by LPS-treated macrophages. TNF release was significantly (P < 0.05; n = 6) inhibited by 10(2) ng/mL or 10(3) ng/mL of E2 and by progesterone at less than 10(-3) ng/mL or greater than 10(-1) ng/mL. E2 (10(-4) and 10 ng/mL) and progesterone (10(-6)-10(-4) ng/mL and 10(2) ng/mL) each significantly (P < 0.05, n = 8) enhanced H2O2 release by LPS-treated macrophages. E2 ( < 10(-2) and > 10 ng/mL) and progesterone (10(-7)-10(4) ng/mL) each significantly inhibited (P< 0.05; n = 6) NO2- release by LPS-treated macrophages.


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure to LPS tended to diminish the effects of E2 and to enhance the effects of progesterone on the parameters determined here. Such LPS-associated alterations in the dose-response profile of macrophages to female sex hormones may contribute to gender-related differences in the immune response under normal and pathological conditions.
Chao
T C
TC
Department of Surgery, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. ischen01@ms15.hinet.net
Chao
H H
HH
Chen
M F
MF
Greager
J A
JA
Walter
R J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide