Effect of progestins on immunity: medroxyprogesterone but not norethisterone or levonorgestrel suppresses the function of T cells and pDCs.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The potential effect of hormonal contraception on HIV-1 acquisition and transmission represents an important public health issue. Several observational studies have suggested an association between the use of hormonal contraception, in particular injectable depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), and an increased risk of HIV-1 acquisition and transmission. We and others have previously demonstrated that DMPA acts as a potent inhibitor of innate and adaptive immune mechanisms. The study presented here addresses the immunomodulatory properties of several common progestins with a potential to replace DMPA.

Study design

To identify safe alternatives to DMPA, we tested the effect of commonly used progestins on the function of human primary T cells and plasmacytoid de

SUBMITTER: Huijbregts RP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4874781 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature