EFFECT OF FIVE ALPHA DIHYDROTESTOSTERONE (5α-DHT) ON CYTOKINE PRODUCTION BY PERITONEAL MACROPHAGES OF NZB/BALBc MICE

One of the mechanisms involved in the regulation of the immune system by steroid hormones could be the monocytic-macrophage system. In this study the effect of the male hormone 5a-DHT on cytokine release by peritoneal macrophages (mΦ) of male and female NZB/BALBc mice was investigated. Macrophages from male mice activated with LPS produced a greater amount of IL-1β (21.8%) (p<0.05) and IL-6 (19.3% ) (p<0.0 1) than age-matched females. However, the total amount of TNF-α released by LPS-activated macrophages was greater (24.8%) (p<0.05) in female than male mice. 5α -DHT enhanced IL-1β and reduced IL-6 release by activated macrophages in a dose-dependent fashion. The effect of 5aD HT on TNF-α release was not exactly dose-dependent Therefore, it is likely that the modulation of the immune system by steroid hormone may partly be due to the effect of 5α -DHT on the secretion of cytokines by the monocytic-macrophage system.