Immunomodulatory Effects of Estrogen and Progesterone Replacement in a Nonhuman Primate Model

详细信息    查看全文

• 作者：Roberta Attanasio ; Deborah A. Gust ; Mark E. Wilson ; Tracy Meeker and Thomas P. Gordon
• 关键词：HRT ; immunomodulation ; rhesus macaques ; aging
• 刊名：Journal of Clinical Immunology
• 出版年：2002
• 出版时间：2002
• 年：2002
• 卷：22
• 期：5
• 页码：263-269
• 全文大小：51 KB

文摘

A novel postmenopausal nonhuman primate model consisting of healthy young and old ovariectomized rhesus macaques was used to assess the short-term immunomodulatory effects of transdermally administered estrogen and progesterone. Specifically, we determined estrogen- and progesterone-induced changes in absolute numbers of circulating lymphocytes (B lymphocytes, CD4+ lymphocytes, and CD8+ lymphocytes) as well as lymphocytes expressing the activation markers CD25 and CD69. In addition, we assessed B and T lymphocyte activity, i.e, immunoglobulin (Ig) and interferon- (IFN-) production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In general, treatment with estrogen or progesterone resulted in decreased lymphocyte numbers and in down-modulation of activation markers. In addition, hormone replacement resulted in a decreasing trend for PBMC IFN- production, whereas PBMC Ig production was minimally affected. Hormone treatment seemed to influence young and old animals differently, with the young animals appearing more susceptible to its immune system-related effects. These results indicate that, in our animal model exogenously administered hormones may dynamically interact with the immune system, resulting in in vivo modulation of lymphocyte numbers and activity.