Skip to main content
PMC home page
The Journal of Clinical Investigation logoLink to The Journal of Clinical Investigation
. 1985 Jan;75(1):162–167. doi: 10.1172/JCI111669

Effect of estradiol and steroid analogues on the clearance of immunoglobulin G-coated erythrocytes.

D Friedman, F Netti, A D Schreiber
PMCID: PMC423422  PMID: 3880770

Abstract

Although the disproportionate frequency of several immunologic disorders among women is well recognized, the effect of sex steroids on immunologic processes is unclear. We used an animal model, which has helped to elucidate the effect of corticosteroids in vivo, to quantitatively assess the effect of estradiol and steroid analogues on the immune clearance of IgG-coated erythrocytes. While corticosteroids impaired the clearance of IgG-coated erythrocytes, estradiol, in doses comparable to those achieved during pregnancy, significantly enhanced the clearance. Estradiol, however, did not enhance the splenic clearance of heat-altered erythrocytes. Splenic macrophages isolated from estradiol-treated animals expressed enhanced receptor affinity for the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G [Fc(IgG)], an effect probably responsible for the enhanced in vivo clearance. No consistent effect of estradiol on the splenic macrophage C3 receptors was observed. The synthetic androgen danazol, the mineralocorticoid deoxycorticosterone, and the cortisol metabolite tetrahydrocortisone did not alter the clearance of IgG-coated cells after 7 d of therapy. The estrogen antagonist/agonist tamoxifen enhanced the clearance of IgG-coated cells, but to a lesser extent than estradiol. An effect of estrogens on macrophage Fc (IgG) receptor-mediated clearance may explain in part the variation in clinical expression of several autoimmune disorders during changes in hormonal state, such as pregnancy.

Full text

PDF
165

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Ahn Y. S., Harrington W. J., Simon S. R., Mylvaganam R., Pall L. M., So A. G. Danazol for the treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. N Engl J Med. 1983 Jun 9;308(23):1396–1399. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198306093082306. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Atkinson J. P., Schreiber A. D., Frank M. M. Effects of corticosteroids and splenectomy on the immune clearance and destruction of erythrocytes. J Clin Invest. 1973 Jun;52(6):1509–1517. doi: 10.1172/JCI107325. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Chaplin H., Jr, Cohen R., Bloomberg G., Kaplan H. J., Moore J. A., Dorner I. Pregnancy and idiopathic autoimmune haemolytic anaemia: a prospective study during 6 months gestation and 3 months post-partum. Br J Haematol. 1973 Feb;24(2):219–229. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1973.tb05742.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Cines D. B., Schreiber A. D. Immune thrombocytopenia. Use of a Coombs antiglobulin test to detect IgG and C3 on platelets. N Engl J Med. 1979 Jan 18;300(3):106–111. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197901183000302. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Claman H. N. Corticosteroids and lymphoid cells. N Engl J Med. 1972 Aug 24;287(8):388–397. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197208242870806. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. DULIN W. E., BOWMAN B. J., STAFFORD R. O. Effects of 2-methylation on glucocorticoid activity of various C-21 steroids. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1957 Feb;94(2):303–305. doi: 10.3181/00379727-94-22929. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Fleit H. B., Wright S. D., Unkeless J. C. Human neutrophil Fc gamma receptor distribution and structure. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1982 May;79(10):3275–3279. doi: 10.1073/pnas.79.10.3275. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Fries L. F., Brickman C. M., Frank M. M. Monocyte receptors for the Fc portion of IgG increase in number in autoimmune hemolytic anemia and other hemolytic states and are decreased by glucocorticoid therapy. J Immunol. 1983 Sep;131(3):1240–1245. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. GOODHUE P. A., EVANS T. S. IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA IN PREGNANCY. REPORT OF A CASE AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 1963 Oct;18:671–693. doi: 10.1097/00006254-196310000-00001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Iwai M., Kanno H., Hashino M., Suzuki J., Yanaihara T., Nakayama T., Mori H. Determination of serum unconjugated estrone, estradiol-17 beta and estriol during pregnancy by selected ion monitoring. J Chromatogr. 1981 Oct 9;225(2):275–282. doi: 10.1016/s0378-4347(00)80275-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Jungers P., Dougados M., Pélissier C., Kuttenn F., Tron F., Lesavre P., Bach J. F. Influence of oral contraceptive therapy on the activity of systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum. 1982 Jun;25(6):618–623. doi: 10.1002/art.1780250603. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Jungers P., Dougados M., Pélissier C., Kuttenn F., Tron F., Lesavre P., Bach J. F. Lupus nephropathy and pregnancy. Report of 104 cases in 36 patients. Arch Intern Med. 1982 Apr;142(4):771–776. doi: 10.1001/archinte.142.4.771. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Lahita R. G., Bradlow H. L., Kunkel H. G., Fishman J. Alterations of estrogen metabolism in systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum. 1979 Nov;22(11):1195–1198. doi: 10.1002/art.1780221106. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. PETERSON O. H., Jr, LARSON P. Thrombocytopenic purpura in pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 1954 Oct;4(4):454–469. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Patterson J. S. Clinical aspects and development of antioestrogen therapy: a review of the endocrine effects of tamoxifen in animals and man. J Endocrinol. 1981;89 (Suppl):67P–75P. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Schreiber A. D. Clinical immunology of the corticosteroids. Prog Clin Immunol. 1977;3:103–114. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Schreiber A. D., Frank M. M. Role of antibody and complement in the immune clearance and destruction of erythrocytes. I. In vivo effects of IgG and IgM complement-fixing sites. J Clin Invest. 1972 Mar;51(3):575–582. doi: 10.1172/JCI106846. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Schreiber A. D., Frank M. M. Role of antibody and complement in the immune clearance and destruction of erythrocytes. II. Molecular nature of IgG and IgM complement-fixing sites and effects of their interaction with serum. J Clin Invest. 1972 Mar;51(3):583–589. doi: 10.1172/JCI106847. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Schreiber A. D., Parsons J., McDermott P., Cooper R. A. Effect of corticosteroids on the human monocyte IgG and complement receptors. J Clin Invest. 1975 Nov;56(5):1189–1197. doi: 10.1172/JCI108196. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Shear H. L., Roubinian J. R., Gil P., Talal N. Clearance of sensitized erythrocytes in NZB/NZW mice. Effects of castration and sex hormone treatment. Eur J Immunol. 1981 Oct;11(10):776–780. doi: 10.1002/eji.1830111008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Townsley J. D., Dubin N. H., Grannis G. F., Gartman L. J., Crystle C. D. Circadian rhythms of serum and urinary estrogens in pregnancy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1973 Feb;36(2):289–295. doi: 10.1210/jcem-36-2-289. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Vernon-Roberts B. The effects of steroid hormones on macrophage activity. Int Rev Cytol. 1969;25:131–159. doi: 10.1016/s0074-7696(08)60202-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Clinical Investigation are provided here courtesy of American Society for Clinical Investigation

RESOURCES