Sex-dependent induction of human suppressor T cells by chorionic gonadotropin

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in physiological retroplacental concentration has been shown to induce human female lymphocytes which suppress the proliferation and differentiation of B cells stimulated by purified protein derivative of tuberculin. To test whether the hCG-induced suppression was sex dependent parallel experiments using female and male peripheral lymphocytes were performed. hCG did not induce cells capable of suppressing purified protein derivative induced B cell proliferation in lymphocytes from males, which was in contrast to lymphocytes from females where a statistically significant suppression was found. A similar hCG-induced suppressive effect was found before menarche, after the menopause and in two patients with Turner's syndrome, suggesting that a gene(s) on the Y chromosome exerts a regulatory function and thus prevents the hormone from inducing suppressor T cells.