title: Cellular and humoral immune responses after short-term oral hormone therapy in postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the cellular and humoral immune responses after oral hormone therapy in postmenopausal women. Study design This was a prospective cohort study, with intervention. The main outcome measures were delayed-type IV cell-mediated hypersensitivity, leukocytes, immunoglobulins, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10).
  
  
  METHODS
  The delayed-type cell-mediated hypersensitivity was measured by using five common allergens before and after 3 months of hormone therapy. Each type of leukocyte cell was counted before and after hormone therapy. Different subtypes of lymphocytes were determined by flow cytometry. Immunoglobulins G, A and M were measured by nephelometry; immunoglobulin E was measured by electrochemiluminescence. IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations were determined by chemiluminescence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hormone therapy increased the response to tuberculin antigen without changing the total number of leukocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and CD4 +, CD8 + B cells. Both monocyte number and CD4 + /CD8 + ratio suffered a slight modification (p = 0.057). Immunoglobulins A, M and E remained unchanged and immunoglobulin G decreased (p = 0.029). IL-6 levels remained stable but IL-10 concentrations increased significantly after hormone therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term oral hormone treatment has no impact on the cellular immune response but, concerning the humoral immune response, immunoglobulin G decreased and the levels of IL-10 were significantly higher.
authors: Federal University of Mato Grosso, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Cuiabá, Brazil.
authors: S F
authors: SF
authors: de Medeiros
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Maitelli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000736:Androstenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000097:blood; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000187:drug effects*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000187:drug effects; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D049449:Luminescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000736:Androstenes; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004967:Estrogens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015850:Interleukin-6; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D016753:Interleukin-10; D004958:Estradiol; C035144:drospirenone