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. 2009 Nov 10;31(1):79–97. doi: 10.1210/er.2009-0018

Table 2.

Reported effects of progesterone and its derivatives on the immune system and immunobiology of HIV-1 infection

Reported effect of progesterone or its derivatives Refs.
Inhibition of IgG and IgA production and transepithelial transport 78,87,88,89,90,91,92,93,94,95,96,129,130,131,132,133,134
Decreased frequency of antibody-secreting cells in women and female macaques 90,96
Decreased specific IgG and IgA responses after mucosal immunization with attenuated HSV-2; induction of permissive conditions for intravaginal infection of mice with HSV-2 and Chlamydia trachomatis 132,133,134
Inhibition of T cell responses and cytotoxic activity 139,140,141,142,143,147
Inhibition of perforin expression in T cells 140,141,142,144,145,146
Decreased proliferation and Th1-type cytokine production by VZV-specific CD4+ T cells in HIV-1 patients 148
Altered migration and decreased activity of NK cells 105,106,106,135,159,251,252
PIBF-mediated shift toward Th2 cytokine expression profile 133,149,150,151,152,153,154
Altered migration and infiltration of lymphocytes, macrophages, and NK cells into the female genital tract tissues 117,118,157,158,183,191,253
Increased expression of CCR5 on cervical CD4+ lymphocytes 81,82
Thinning of cervicovaginal epithelium in rhesus macaques 42,66
Increased frequency of LCs in vaginal epithelium 76,77
Regulation of HIV replication and LTR activity 254
Suppression of IL-1, IL-2, and IL-6 release by human lymphocytes 148,177
Inhibition of TLR-9-induced IFN-α production by human and mouse pDCs 162
Increased shedding of HIV-1 in the genital tract 35,36,37
Decreased FcγR expression on monocytes 159,160
Decreased vaginal colonization with H2O2-producing Lactobacillus 70

VZV, Varicella-zoster virus; TLR, Toll-like receptor; LTR, long terminal repeat; pDC, plasmocytoid dendritic cell. 

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