Gonadal steroids modulate interleukin-1 receptor antagonist mRNA expression in cultured human monocytes

This study investigated whether gonadal steroids modulate the expression of the cytokine Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in monocytes. Human male peripheral monocytes were isolated and cultured in serum free media with serially diluted concentrations of estradiol and progesterone. mRNA expressions with increasing steroid concentrations were compared by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for intracellular and secretory interleukin-1 receptor antagonist specific primers and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase primers. Monocyte expression of secretory Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist mRNA was significantly elevated in the presence of normal physiological levels of estradiol (10(-11) M) and progesterone (10(-8) M), while expression was suppressed by higher concentrations of steroids. Intracellular receptor antagonist was also detected. This study is the first to describe the dose related response of cytokine interleukin-1 receptor antagonist to gonadal steroids.