Effects of estradiol and progesterone on the proinflammatory cytokine production by mononuclear cells from patients with chronic hepatitis C

Table 4 Effects of E2 and progesterone on hydrogen peroxide-stimulated production of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8, and MCP-1 by PBMCs from age-matched younger male and pre-menopausal female healthy controls (pg/mL supernatant)

Healthy subjects	TNF-α	IL-1β	IL-8	MCP-1
Younger male controls
Oxidative stress	102 ± 17	66 ± 11	218 ± 41	474 ± 81
Oxidative stress + E2	78 ± 11a	49 ± 6a	174 ± 27a	332 ± 49a
Oxidative stress + E2 + ICI	107 ± 10	62 ± 11	223 ± 46	457 ± 87
Oxidative stress + Progesterone	140 ± 14a	86 ± 9a	289 ± 40a	658 ± 98a
Oxidative stress + Progesterone + RU	110 ± 23	75 ± 14	223 ± 32	516 ± 73
Pre-menopausal female controls
Oxidative stress	91 ± 15	57 ± 9	195 ± 37	435 ± 85
Oxidative stress + E2	64 ± 11a	42 ± 6a	155 ± 29a	314 ± 68a
Oxidative stress + E2 + ICI	95 ± 13	54 ± 9	187 ± 37	419 ± 92
Oxidative stress + Progesterone	129 ± 12a	75 ± 12a	255 ± 40a	586 ± 70a
Oxidative stress + Progesterone + RU	101 ± 19	63 ± 11	208 ± 40	462 ± 73

The unstimulated PBMCs from the age-matched younger male (n = 18) and pre-menopausal female (n = 18) healthy controls were incubated for up to 6 h in serum-free RPMI after exposure to 10^-5 mol/L hydrogen peroxide (oxidative stress) with and without 10^-8 mol/L E2 (E2) or 10^-7 mol/L progesterone (Progesterone) in the presence and absence of 10^-6 mol/L ICI (ICI) or 10^-6 mol/L RU (RU). The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8, and MCP-1 in the culture supernatant incubated for 6 h were detected by means of an ELISA. The values are the mean ± SD (n = 18).

^aP < 0.05 vs 1 h cultures for MCP-1 or 6 h cultures for TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8 after hydrogen peroxide exposure in the absence of the female sex hormones and receptor antagonists.