title: Progesterone regulation of uterine dendritic cell function in rodents is dependent on the stage of estrous cycle.
abstract: Steroid hormones, such as progesterone, are able to modify immunity and influence disease outcome. Dendritic cells (DCs) drive potent immune responses, express receptors for steroid hormones, and may be a primary target of steroid hormone actions during infection of the genital tract, including uterine tissue. Here, we report that progesterone limited DC-associated activation marker expression and inhibited cytokine secretion by uterine DCs, which was associated with changes in signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) activity. We also found that DCs from mice at stages with higher progesterone concentrations (diestrus, metaestrus) were more sensitive to progesterone than those in stages with lower progesterone concentrations (proestrus, estrus), both in vitro and in vivo. This difference correlated with the levels of progesterone receptor expressed by DCs. These data suggest that progesterone regulates DC function and could contribute to the susceptibility of females to uterine and other genital tract infections at selected time periods throughout the life cycle.
authors.affiliation: Section on Neuroendocrine Immunology & Behavior, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Butts
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Candando
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Warfel
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Belyavskaya
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'Agnillo
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Sternberg
mesh_terms: D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000502:physiology; D014599:Uterus / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D011374:Progesterone