The influence of hormonal replacement therapy on immune system in patients with hypergonadotropic ovarian insufficiency

Abstract

Objective: To study the influence of steroid hormones on interferon (IFN) status indices and cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK)-cells index in patients with hypergonadotropic ovarian insufficiency.

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Methods: 20 patients with secondary hypergonadotropic amenorea (23-37 yrs.) were examined; the control consisted of 28 healthy women of reproductive age. All women had normal female caryotype 46/XX. IFN status and cytotoxic activity of NK-cells indices were investigated in the blood serum before and during cyclic hormonal replacement therapy (HRT).

Results: The initial cytotoxic activity of NK-cells and IFN status indices were higher then in control (p<0.05). Under the influence of estradiol there was a decrease of cytotoxic activity of NK-cells index by 18.9%, production of IFN-a/b — by 19.5% and IFN-g - by 37.5% (p<0.01). Against the background of maximum progesterone influence the cytotoxic activity of NK-cells increased by 8% (p<0.05), IFN-g production - by 19% (p<0.01) and IFN-a/b production - by 9% (p>0.05). Common serum IFN indices before and during HRT were higher than in control (p<0.05).

Conclusions: The results demonstrate the influence of sexual steroid hormones on leukocytes ability to produce IFN-a/b/g and cytotoxic activity of NK-cells and allow to assume that estrogens in the progesterone deficiency favour the decrease of these indices. Gestagens, in their turn, stimulate the leukocytes ability to produce IFN-a/b/g and cytotoxic activity of NK-cells.