Redirection of cytokine production by lymphocytes from women with pre-term delivery by dydrogesterone.
OBJECTIVE
To study the ability of dydrogesterone to modulate the production of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines by lymphocytes from women undergoing pre-term delivery (PTD).


METHODS
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 18 subjects undergoing PTD were stimulated with the mitogen phytohemagglutinin in the presence and absence of progesterone and dydrogesterone. The levels of interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-10 in culture supernatants were then estimated by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assay. Cytokine production in the presence and absence of progesterone and dydrogesterone were compared.


RESULTS
The exposure of PBMC to dydrogesterone resulted in a significant inhibition in the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha and a significant increase in the levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4, resulting in a substantial shift in the ratio of Th1/Th2 cytokines.


CONCLUSIONS
Dydrogesterone induces a shift in cytokine bias, by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokine production and increasing anti-inflammatory cytokine production.
Raghupathy
Raj
R
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait. raj@hsc.edu.kw
Al Mutawa
Esraa
E
Makhseed
Ma'asoumah
M
Al-Azemi
Majedah
M
Azizieh
Fawaz
F
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D004394:Dydrogesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis
D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D004394:Dydrogesterone