scholarly journals Progesterone and 17β-Estradiol Enhance Regulatory Responses to Human Papillomavirus Type 16 Virus-Like Particles in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Healthy Women

2010 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 609-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgan A. Marks ◽  
Patti E. Gravitt ◽  
Robert D. Burk ◽  
Yevgeniy Studentsov ◽  
Homayoon Farzadegan ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Human papillomavirus (HPV) virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines are highly effective at preventing viral infections and the development of precancerous lesions through the induction of high-titer neutralizing antibodies and strong cell-mediated immune responses. Women taking combined oral contraceptives (COCs), however, show large variabilities in the magnitudes of their antibody responses. The goal of the present study was to determine the effects of 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) alone and in combination on the cellular immune response to HPV type 16 (HPV-16) VLPs in vitro. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donor women were stimulated in vitro with HPV-16 VLPs (2.5 μg/ml) in the presence of E2 and P4 administered either alone or in combination; and lymphoproliferation, cytokine production, transcription factor expression, and steroid hormone receptor expression were analyzed. HPV-16 VLPs significantly increased the levels of lymphoproliferation, proinflammatory cytokine (gamma interferon [IFN-γ], interleukin-1β [IL-1β], IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12p70, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α]) production, anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-1ra, IL-10) production, and the expression of Erα and Erβ but decreased the levels of Foxp3 expression and production of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). Exposure of PBMCs to E2 and P4 either alone or in combination significantly decreased the levels of lymphoproliferation and production of proinflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-12p70, TNF-α) but increased the levels of production of IL-10 and TGF-β and the expression of Foxp3 in response to HPV-16 VLPs. Treatment of cells with biologically relevant concentrations of sex steroid hormones suppressed the inflammatory response and enhanced the regulatory response to HPV-16 VLPs, which may have implications for predicting the long-term efficacy of HPV vaccines, adverse events, and cross-protection among women taking COCs.

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S758-S758
Author(s):  
Aviva Szigeti ◽  
Margaret Hammerschlag ◽  
Diana Weaver ◽  
Tamar Smith-Norowitz ◽  
Stephan Kohlhoff

Abstract Background Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) is unique in its ability to cause chronic infections, potentially triggering asthma exacerbations as well as subsequent asthma development. Th1-mediated immunity and IFN-γ are critical for clearing chlamydial infections. Persistent or recent Cpn infection may be identified in vitro by detecting T-helper cytokine IFN-γ produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated by Cpn. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) may have an inhibitory effect on IFN-γ. Prior studies have shown increased Th2 responses upon in vitro Cpn stimulation with increased age. Our aim was to determine whether age and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use affect Cpn-induced PBMC produced IFN-γ levels. Methods Pediatric and adult subjects with (n = 23) and without (n = 10) asthma were enrolled. PBMC obtained from all subjects were stimulated with Cpn (MOI = 0.1 x48h) in vitro. IFN-γ levels in culture supernatants were determined by ELISA and reported as pg/mL. Nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs were tested for Cpn using Real-Time PCR. Statistical analysis for continuous variables was performed using the Mann–Whitney U test. Results None of the subjects were positive for Cpn by PCR on NP swab. Levels of IFN-γ produced by PBMC stimulated by Cpn were similar between asthmatic vs. control subjects (41.7 vs. 68.8, respectively; P = 0.72) and between pediatric and adult subjects with asthma (IFN-γ 54 vs. 20.1 respectively, P = 0.95). Pediatric subjects with asthma who received ICS had lower IFN-γ levels than those who did not (median IFN-γ 25.5 vs. 209; P = 0.003). Conclusion Our finding of lower IFN-γ levels among asthma patients on ICS compared with those not on ICS suggests that ICS use may dampen the systemic inflammatory response. While we did not find a statistically significant difference between pediatric and adult age groups in this pilot study, there was a trend to higher Cpn-induced IFN-γ levels among younger pediatric subjects. Future prospective studies should further define predictors of diminished IFN-γ responses in patients with asthma. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


Pteridines ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-243
Author(s):  
Sebastian Schroecksnadel ◽  
Elena-Sophia Ledjeff ◽  
Johanna Gostner ◽  
Christiana Winkler ◽  
Katharina Kurz ◽  
...  

AbstractIn vitro, large amounts of neopterin are released from human monocyte-derived macrophages and dendritic cells primarily upon stimulation with Th1-type cytokine interferon-γ (IFN-γ). IFN-γ also induces the enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), which degrades tryptophan (TRP) to form kynurenine (KYN). IDO-mediated TRP catabolism is very effective in suppressing the proliferation of T lymphocytes as well as of pathogens in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we investigated whether exogenously added neopterin may influence IDO activity in resting and in stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). PBMC were isolated from healthy donors, and neopterin was added in a concentration range from 0.01 to 50 μmol/L. After 30 min, PBMC were stimulated or not with 10 μg/mL of mitogen phytohemagglutinin (PHA). After 48 h, culture supernatants were collected, KYN and TRP concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the ratio of KYN vs. TRP was calculated as an estimate of IDO activity. Spontaneous as well as PHA-induced TRP breakdown was suppressed by exogenously added neopterin in a dose-dependent way; the lowest active concentration of neopterin was <100 nmol/L. As neopterin concentrations in the nanomolar range are commonly observed in patients suffering from infections, sepsis, or uremia, our results suggest that neopterin formation might also serve as a feedback mechanism to slow down TRP degradation in vivo.


2002 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 135-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. K. Mao ◽  
J. van de Water ◽  
C. L. Keen ◽  
H. H. Schmitz ◽  
M. E. Gershwin

Epidemiological reports have suggested that the consumption of foods rich in flavonoids is associated with a lower incidence of certain degenerative diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Flavanols and their related oligomers, the procyanidins CFP, isolated from cocoa can modulate the production and level of several signaling molecules associated with immune function and inflammationin vitro, including several cytokines and eicosanoids. To further elucidate the potential immuno-modulatory functions of flavanol-rich cocoa, the present investigation examined whether isolated CFP fractions (monomers through decamers) influence the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) from resting and phytohemagluttinin (PHA)-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). We used anin vitroculture system where PBMC from 14 healthy subjects were introduced to individual CFP fractions for 72 h prior to measuring the levels of TNF-α released. The intermediate-sized CFP fractions (tetramers through octamers) were the most active on resting cells, causing a 3–4 fold increase in TNF-α relative to media baseline. The monomers and dimers were the least stimulatory of the fractions tested, displaying a 42 and 31% increase, respectively, over media control, whereas the trimers, nonamers and decamers showed an intermediate stimulation of this cytokine. In the presence of PHA, the intermediate-sized CFP fractions again were the most active, enhancing TNF-α secretion in the range of 48–128% relative to the PHA control. The monomers and dimers were slightly inhibitory (–1.5 and –15%, respectively), while trimers, nonamers and decamers stimulated moderate increases in TNF-α levels (13, 19 and 15%, respectively). The above results lend support to the concept that CFP can be immunomodulatory. The stimulation of TNF-α secretion may contribute to the putative beneficial effects of dietary flavanoids against microbial infection and tumorigenesis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (7) ◽  
pp. 1053-1060
Author(s):  
Elżbieta Kozłowska ◽  
Paulina Żelechowska ◽  
Adam Wysokiński ◽  
Paweł Rasmus ◽  
Anna Łucka ◽  
...  

Increasing evidence has shown that the immune system is involved in the schizophrenia development, with alterations in immune cell reactivity being one possible factor contributing to its pathogenesis. The purpose of the study was to evaluate in vitro the capability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from subjects with schizophrenia and controls to engage in spontaneous and phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated cytokine production. The concentrations of various cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interferon (IFN)-γ and IL-10) in supernatants from cultured PBMCs were measured using the cytometric bead array. No significant differences in the spontaneous production of IL-1β, IL-17A, IFN-γ and IL-10 by PBMCs were detected between individuals with schizophrenia and controls. TNF synthesis by PBMCs was found to be lower among those with schizophrenia. In all subjects and controls, greater cytokine generation was associated with PBMCs treated with PHA compared with those that were not. The PBMCs from people with schizophrenia displayed considerably higher sensitivity to mitogen stimulation, as the production of IL-17A, TNF and IFN-γ was at least threefold of that observed in healthy subjects, which may be driven by antipsychotics taken by patients with schizophrenia. Correlation was observed between spontaneous production of IFN-γ and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale G subscore (which measures the general symptoms of schizophrenia) and between PHA-stimulated synthesis of IL–17A and G subscore. Our data confirm that the immune system dysregulation may underlie schizophrenia pathophysiology. There is a potential possibility that immunological tests could be used as a diagnostic, therapeutic and side-effects biomarker for schizophrenia, but further studies are needed.


2000 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 2003-2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shen-Jeu Won ◽  
Wu-Tein Huang ◽  
Yih-Shyong Lai ◽  
Mao-Tsun Lin

ABSTRACT The pyrogenic response to supernatant fluids obtained from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated with staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) was characteristic of a response to an endogenous pyrogen in that it was brief and monophasic and was destroyed by heating supernatant fluids at 70°C for 30 min. The febrile responses were in parallel with the levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-2, and IL-6 in supernatant fluids obtained from PBMC treated with SEA. Both the pyrogenicity and the levels of IL-1, TNF, IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-6 in supernatant fluids started to rise at 6 to 18 h and reached their peak levels at 24 to 96 h after SEA incubation. Both the fever and the increased levels of IL-1, TNF, IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-6 in supernatant fluids obtained from the SEA-stimulated PBMC were decreased by incubating SEA-PBMC with anisomycin (a protein synthesis inhibitor), aminoguanidine (an inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase [NOS]), or dexamethasone (an inhibitor of NOS). The febrile response to supernatant fluids obtained from the SEA-stimulated PBMC was attenuated by adding either anti-IL-1β, anti-TNF-α, or anti-IFN-γ monoclonal antibody (MAb) to supernatant fluids. The antipyretic effects exerted by anti-IL-1β MAb were greater than those exerted by anti-TNF-α or anti-IFN-γ MAb. The data suggest that SEA acts through the NOS mechanisms in PBMC to stimulate synthesis of pyrogenic cytokines (in particular, the IL-1β).


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuntiya Pahumunto ◽  
Amina Basic ◽  
Anna-Karin Östberg ◽  
Rawee Teanpaisan ◽  
Gunnar Dahlen

Abstract Background: This study evaluated the effect of oral lactobacilli on the cytotoxicity and cytokine release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) when exposed to Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans subtypes in vitro. The supernatants and cell wall extracts (CWEs) of eight A. actinomycetemcomitans strains, representing different subtypes, and three Lactobacillus strains were used. The PBMCs from six blood donors were exposed to supernatants and CWEs of A. actinomycetemcomitans or Lactobacillus strains alone or combinations and untreated cells as control. The cytotoxicity was determined by trypan blue exclusion method and IL-1β secretion by ELISA. TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 secretions were measured using Bioplex Multiplex Immunoassay. Results: Supernatants or CWEs from all bacterial strains showed cytotoxicity and IL-1β secretion and the subtypes of A. actinomycetemcomitans showed generally a significantly higher effect on PBMCs than that of the Lactobacillus strains. Two highly toxic A. actinomycetemcomitans strains (JP2 and JP2-like) induced a higher response than all other strains. When combined, Lactobacillus significantly reduced the toxicity and the IL-1β secretion induced by A. acinomycetemcomitans. The effect varied between the subtypes and the reduction was highest for the JP2 and JP2-like strains. The Lactobacillus paracasei strain SD1 had a higher reducing effect than the other Lactobacillus strains. This strain had a consistent reducing effect on all subtypes of A. actinomycetemcomitans cytotoxicity, and release of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α from PBMCs of the blood donors. A strong and significant variation in cytokine release between the six blood donors was noticed.Conclusions: Lactobacillus spp. and L. paracasei SD1 in particular, showed a limited but statistically significant reducing interaction with A. actinomycetemcomitans toxicity and release of cytokines in vitro.


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