Immune System and Hormones

Progesterone induces Th2 dominance

Progesterone-induced blocking factor (PIBF) induces Th2-dominantcytokine production.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16393965

Supplemental progesterone inhibits Th1 cytokines and increases Th2 cytokines

Dydrogesterone significantly inhibited the production of the Th1 cytokines and induced an increase in the levels of the Th2 cytokines, resulting in a substantial shift in the ratio of Th1/Th2 cytokines. The effect of dydrogesterone was blocked by the addition of the progesterone-receptor antagonist mifepristone, indicating that dydrogesterone was acting via the progesterone receptor. Dydrogesterone induced the production of progesterone induced blocking factor.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2005.00633.x/full

HCG, Estrogen and Progesterone raise Th2 levels

Individual and combined effects of chorionic gonadotropin (CG), estrogen, and progesterone on the production of IFNgamma (Th1) and IL-4 (Th2) by human peripheral blood lymphocytes was studied in vitro together with certain intracellular mechanisms underlying the hormonal effects. High CG dose (100 IU/ml) proved to significantly decrease IFNgamma level in the T cell culture supernatant, although this effect was not observed at the background of steroid hormones. In contrast, progesterone (100 ng/ml) increased IFNgamma production by activated T lymphocytes but proved inefficient in a physiological combination with CG and estrogen. IL-4 production was almost doubled by all studied hormones and their combinations, which considerably decreased the IFNgamma/IL-4 ratio in the culture.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16004257

Women with PMS and acne have an immune response to female sex hormones, healthy women do not

Ten patients were diagnosed with PMS and concomitant skin disease, including pruritus vulvae, hyperpigmentation, papular eruption and acne vulgaris (group A). Ten patients diagnosed with PMS but without skin disease served as the first control group (group B). The second control group consisted of 10 healthy women (group C). Immediate and delayed hypersensitivity reactions to sex hormones were observed in all patients with PMS and PMS-related skin diseases (groups A and B) but not in healthy women (group C). Desensitization produced a decrease in PMS symptoms and improvement in the skin disease related to PMS. CONCLUSION: Skin diseases may be a part of PMS. Demonstration of a delayed allergic reaction to female sex hormones may uncover a significant pathogenetic mechanism in patients with recurrent skin disease and PMS.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15098889

TNF-alpha and IL-6 higher in lean women with PCOS, associated with insulin resistance

TNF-alpha and IL-6 concentrations were significantly higher in women with PCOS than in the control group. Significant correlations were found between TNF-alpha serum concentrations and Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference, triglyceride concentrations, fasting insulin, and insulin resistance indices. IL-6 concentrations were correlated with fasting glucose and insulin resistance. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that TNF-alpha and IL-6 concentrations were elevated in normal weight women with PCOS. The findings may contribute to evidence of insulin resistance in lean women with PCOS.