Progesterone Elicits an Inhibitory Effect upon LPS-Induced Innate Immune Response in Pre-Labor Human Amniotic Epithelium

Pilar Flores-Espinosa, Montzerrat Pineda-Torres, Rodrigo Vega-Sánchez, Guadalupe Estrada-Gutiérrez, Aurora Espejel-Nuñez, Arturo Flores-Pliego, Rolando Maida-Claros, Yuriria Paredes-Vivas, Iyari Morales-Méndez, Irma Sosa-González, Angel Chávez-Mendoza, Verónica Zaga-Clavellina

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

Problem: Infection of human fetal membranes elicits secretion of pro-inflammatory modulators through its innate immune capacities. We investigated the effect of lipopolysacharide (LPS) and progesterone (P4) upon expression of TLR-4/MyD88, TNFα, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and HBD2 on the human amniotic epithelium. Method of study: Explants of the human amniotic epithelium were pre-treated with 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 μm of P4; then cotreated with 1000 ng/mL LPS. TLR-4 was immuno-detected, and concentrations of MyD88, TNFα, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and HBD2 were quantified by ELISA. Results: P4 significantly reduced the expression of LPS-induced TLR-4/MyD88. LPS increased the concentrations of TNFα, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and HBD2 by factors of 30-, eight, three, three, and fivefold, respectively. P4 at 1.0 μm was the most effective dose to blunt the secretion of TNFα, IL-6, and HBD-2. RU-486 blocks the effect of P4. Conclusion: P4 inhibited LPS-induced TLR-4/MyD88 and pro-inflammatory factors in the human amniotic epithelium. These results could explain partially how P4 can protect the amniotic region of fetal membranes and generate a compensatory mechanism that limits the secretion of pro-inflammatory modulators, which could jeopardize the immune privilege during pregnancy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)61-72
Number of pages12
JournalAmerican Journal of Reproductive Immunology
Volume71
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2014

Keywords

  • Chorioamnionitis
  • Human amniotic epithelium
  • Inflammation
  • Innate immunity
  • Progesterone
  • TLR-4

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