Progesterone and estradiol exert an inhibitory effect on the production of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 by activated MZ B cells.
The main message of this work is the fact that female sex hormones, progesterone and estradiol, whose levels significantly rise during pregnancy, inhibit the production of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 with no apparent effect on pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α by activated MZ B cells. This is an important piece of information and helps to better understand how the maternal immune system controls the balance between immune tolerance and immune activation during pregnancy leading to the simultaneously acceptance of the semi-allogeneic fetus and the proper defense of the mother against pathogens during this critical period of time.
Research Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
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Bommer
Research Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
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Muzzio
Research Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
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Zygmunt
Research Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; Laboratory for Immunology of Pregnancy, Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies (CEFYBO-CONICET-UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Institute of Health Sciences, National University Arturo Jauretche, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: fjensen@unaj.edu.ar.
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Jensen
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007109:Immunity; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol