EFFECTS OF SEX-HORMONES ON PRODUCTION OF PROSTAGLANDIN E(2) BY HUMAN PERIPHERAL MONOCYTES

THE EFFECTS OF SEX HORMONES on the in vitro production of prostaglandin (PG) E(2) by monocytes were investigated. Monocytes were obtained from heparinized peripheral blood of healthy adults and incubated for 24 hours with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and sex hormones. After incubation, the medium was assayed for PGE, by means of radioimmunoassay. PGE(2) production by monocytes was enhanced by progesterone. Estradiol reduced PGE(2) production at 0.4 ng/ml, but enhanced it at 20 ng/ml. Testosterone reduced PGE(2) production. The reduced PGE(2) production by monocytes treated with 0.4 ng/ml of estradiol was restored to the control level by addition of progesterone at 20 ng/ml. These results suggest that sex hormones may modulate gingival inflammation mediated by PGE(2).