title: Progesterone-based compounds affect immune responses and susceptibility to infections at diverse mucosal sites.
abstract: Over 100 million women worldwide are currently on progesterone-based contraceptives to improve their health outcomes through reduced maternal mortality and family planning. In addition to their role in reproduction, progesterone-based compounds modulate immune responses throughout the body, particularly at mucosal sites. By binding to receptors located in immune cells, including natural killer cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, and T cells, as well in non-immune cells, such as epithelial and endothelial cells, progesterone-based compounds alter cellular signaling and activity to affect the outcome of infections at diverse mucosal sites, including the genital, gastrointestinal, and respiratory tracts. As the use of progesterone-based compounds, in the form of contraceptives and hormone-based therapies, continue to increase worldwide, greater consideration should be given to how the immunomodulatory effects these compounds alter the outcome of diseases at mucosal sites beyond the reproductive tract, which has profound implications for women's health.
authors.affiliation: W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland USA.
authors.forename: Olivia J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland USA.
authors.forename: Sabra L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003270:Contraceptive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004727:Endothelium / Q000502:physiology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology*; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D003270:Contraceptive Agents; D011374:Progesterone