title: Female sex steroid hormones modify some regulatory properties of monocyte-derived dendritic cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (mDCs) are present in human decidua during the first month of pregnancy where they experience the effect of the increased concentration of progesterone (Pg) and estradiol (Estr). The aim of our study was to assess the effect of these reproductive hormones on the immunomodulatory role of mDCs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mDCs cultured in vitro in the presence of sex steroid hormones and characterized for their apoptosis and secretion of cytokines by flow cytometry, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and proteome profiler kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Female sex steroid hormones enhance the life cycle of mDCs, thus increasing the maturation and apoptosis, they also increase the production of interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-27 but only Pg increases the production of IL-13 and down regulates the secretion of IL-23.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Pg and Estr participate in the regulation of the immune response during pregnancy by influencing apoptosis and the cytokine profile of the mDCs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Sv.I.Rilski, Medical University Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria. skyurkchiev@mail.bg
authors.forename: Dobroslav
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kyurkchiev
authors.forename: Ekaterina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ivanova-Todorova
authors.forename: Soren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayrabedyan
authors.forename: Iskra
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Altankova
authors.forename: Stanimir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kyurkchiev
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004958:Estradiol / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol