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

Objective To test whether 17β-estradiol or progesterone influence the cytokine productive capacity of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated monocytes in humans. Design Prospective study. Setting Academic research institution. Patient(s) Seven women in the luteal phase of a normal ovarian cycle, 13 oral contraceptive users, 10 men, and 10 postmenopausal women. Intervention(s) Blood samples collected from women in the luteal phase and from oral contraceptive users were used to study the in vivo effect of 17β-estradiol and progesterone on monocyte cytokine production. Blood samples collected from men and postmenopausal women were used for in vitro incubation with 17β-estradiol and progesterone. Main outcome measure(s) The percentage of monocytes producing tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) after in vitro LPS-stimulation was determined. Result(s) 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-α or IL-1β; or between 17β-estradiol and TNF-α or IL-1β. Moreover, the production of TNF-α and IL-1β by LPS-stimulated monocytes did not vary between periods of oral contraceptive use and nonuse. The production of TNF-α and IL-1β by LPS-stimulated monocytes in the blood of men and postmenopausal women in vitro was not influenced by incubation with different concentrations of 17β-estradiol or progesterone. Conclusion(s) We could not find evidence for a causal relationship between 17β-estradiol or progesterone and TNF-α- or IL-1β-production. We conclude that 17β-estradiol and progesterone do not influence the cytokine-production capacity of LPS-stimulated monocytes in humans.