Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues lead to pro-inflammatory changes in T lymphocytes.
We aimed to investigate the effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues on T-cell immunity.



TNF-α(+) -, INF-ɣ(+) -, IL-10(+) -, and IL-17(+) -expressing T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were treated with various concentrations (0.1, 1, 5, and 10 μm) of GnRH agonist (buserelin acetate) and antagonist (cetrorelix acetate) for 4 hours in vitro and they were analyzed with flow cytometry.



TNF-α(+) /IL-10(+) T helper (TH) cell ratios were increased in PBMCs treated with 1, 5, and 10 μm GnRH agonist when compared to controls (P=.006, P=.014 and P=.030, respectively). IFN-ɣ(+) /IL-10(+) TH cell ratios were significantly increased with 0.1, 1, 5, and 10 μm GnRH agonist as compared with controls (P=.046, P=.004, P=.013, and P=.011, respectively). TNF-α(+) TH cell levels, and IFN-γ(+) /IL-10(+) TH cell ratios were significantly different (P<.001 and P<.004, respectively) between GnRH agonist- and antagonist-treated cells.



GnRH analogues induce pro-inflammatory TH1 shift in T-cell immunity, in vitro. GnRH treatment during assisted reproductive technology cycle might explain a possible cause of inflammatory flare in women with inflammatory conditions.
Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Vernon Hills, IL, USA.
Nayoung
N
Sung
Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Vernon Hills, IL, USA.
María D
MD
Salazar García
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, USA.
Svetlana
S
Dambaeva
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, USA.
Kenneth D
KD
Beaman
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, USA.
Alice
A
Gilman-Sachs
Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Vernon Hills, IL, USA.|Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, USA.
Joanne
J
Kwak-Kim
D000328:Adult; D002064:Buserelin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D016207:Cytokines; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; C062876:cetrorelix; D002064:Buserelin
GnRH agonist; GnRH antagonist; T helper (TH) 1 immunity; TH17; gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)