title: Chorionic gonadotropin can enhance innate immunity by stimulating macrophage function.
abstract: Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a placental glycoprotein, mainly secreted by trophoblasts during pregnancy. Its function in endocrine regulation has been well documented, but its immunological role is still largely unclear. For a successful pregnancy, an effective innate immunity is needed to protect the mother and fetus against infection, while maintaining tolerance against the paternal antigens of the fetus. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hCG on the function of macrophages (Mvarphi), which are major players in the innate response. hCG treatment of IFN-gamma-primed Mvarphi resulted in increased production of NO, reactive oxygen species, IL-6 and IL-12p40, and enhanced phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. hCG treatment did not affect the induction of allogeneic T cell proliferation by IFN-gamma-primed Mvarphi. The observed effects were receptor-mediated and involved the protein kinase A signaling pathway, as indicated by blocking studies using specific inhibitors. In vivo thioglycollate-elicited Mvarphi also exhibited increased phagocytic ability upon IFN-gamma activation and hCG treatment. In conclusion, hCG enhances Mvarphi functions involved in innate immunity, while the capacity to stimulate allogeneic T cells remains unchanged.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. h.wan@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Marjan A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Versnel
authors.forename: Wai Yee
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Pieter J M
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Leenen
authors.forename: Nisar A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Robbert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benner
authors.forename: Rebecca C M
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Kiekens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40 / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000276:immunology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D015850:Interleukin-6; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases