17β-estradiol and progesterone do not influence the production of cytokines from lipopolysaccharide-stimulated monocytes in humans

Abstract

To test whether 17beta-estradiol or progesterone influence the cytokine productive capacity of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated monocytes in humans. Prospective study. Academic research institution. Seven women in the luteal phase of a normal ovarian cycle, 13 oral contraceptive users, 10 men, and 10 postmenopausal women. Blood samples collected from women in the luteal phase and from oral contraceptive users were used to study the in vivo effect of 17beta-estradiol and progesterone on monocyte cytokine production. Blood samples collected from men and postmenopausal women were used for in vitro incubation with 17beta-estradiol and progesterone. The percentage of monocytes producing tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) after in vitro LPS-stimulation was determined. No in vivo relation in the productive capacities of LPS-stimulated monocytes in the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle was found between progesterone and TNF-alpha or IL-1beta; or between 17beta-estradiol and TNF-alpha or IL-1beta. Moreover, the production of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta by LPS-stimulated monocytes did not vary between periods of oral contraceptive use and nonuse. The production of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta by LPS-stimulated monocytes in the blood of men and postmenopausal women in vitro was not influenced by incubation with different concentrations of 17beta-estradiol or progesterone. We could not find evidence for a causal relationship between 17beta-estradiol or progesterone and TNF-alpha- or IL-1beta-production. We conclude that 17beta-estradiol and progesterone do not influence the cytokine-production capacity of LPS-stimulated monocytes in humans.