Gonadotropin modulation of interleukin-1 secretion.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the influence of pituitary gonadotropins, which increase dramatically in concentration at ovulation and in the early years of the postmenopausal transition, on inflammatory cytokine production.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional population sampling, in vitro experimentation.

PARTICIPANTS

Healthy subjects, including six men, five women between the ages of 18 and 35 years, and four women who were four to 20 years past menopause.

METHOD

Isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells were incubated with physiological concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The concentrations of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) secreted into the supernatants were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

RESULTS

Under basal conditions, FSH stimulated IL-1 beta secretion by cells isolated from women in the follicular phase. Under conditions of cellular activation with bacterial lipopolysaccharide, FSH and LH interacted to inhibit IL-1 beta secretion by cells isolated from all groups. The gonadotropins had no significant influence on IL-6 secretion regardless of donor group or cellular activation state.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study support the concept that gonadotropins may contribute to the changes in IL-1 beta secretion that occur at the periovulatory and postmenopausal periods.