Progesterone is involved in the maturation of murine spleen CD11c-positive dendritic cells

Progesterone (Prog), a female sex steroid hormone, not only plays an important role in the female mammary pregnancy but also influences the immune response. In the present study, murine spleen CD11c-positive dendritic cells (SDCs) were treated with various concentrations of Prog for 24 h, and their viability, phenotype, nuclear factor kappa B P65 (NF-kappaB P65), endocytosis, stimulatory capacity, and cytokine expression were analyzed. The results showed that Prog increased the expressions of MHC-II and CD40, stimulatory capacity and intracellular levels of IL-6 and IL-10, while decreased the expressions of CD54 and IL-12, endocytosis and nuclear level of NF-kappaB P65 of SDCs. These data suggested that Prog may promote the maturation of SDCs and enhance their ability to interact with T cells so as to change the course of autoimmune diseases.