[Progesterone - regulator of T-lymphocytes cytotoxicity]

Progesterone plays important the role in the regulation of the immune system during pregnancy. We examined the effect of progesterone on the cytotoxic activity of T-lymphocytes in a model system Jurkat cells. Jurkat cells were stimulated with 50 μg/ml of phytohemaglutinin A (PHA) at 370C for 5 minutes. Then, PHA was removed by centrifugation, the cells were washed and cultured for 24 hours alone or with progesterone (added to the incubation medium of Jurkat cells at a concentration of 0.07 and 0.7 μl. Determined value of The parameters of mitochondrial membrane potential (by flow cytometry) and parameters of mitochondrial oxidative metabolism (the rate of generation of superoxide and peroxide radicals and activity of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutatinperoxidase, the degree of nitrosylation of mitochondrial electron-transport proteins (by method of electron paramagnetic resonance and spectrophotometry) were determined. It was identified the lowering effect of high dose of progesterone (0.7μl) on the value of mitochondrial membrane potential (balancing percentage of cells with high and low values of mitochondrial potential and decreased intensity of oxidative stress in mitogen - activated Jurkat cells, which supports inhibition of their proliferation and differentiation activity.