Influence of estrogen therapy on immune markers in postmenopausal women

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the impact of estrogen therapy on cellular and humoral immune markers in postmenopausal women.

Methods: This prospective, controlled cohort study included 30 patients who used oral estradiol (1 mg) for 14–17 weeks and 28 patients who served as controls. Total leukocytes and leukocyte subtypes were counted and immunophenotyped by flow cytometry. The concentrations of immunoglobulins and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were also measured in the peripheral blood before and after estrogen therapy. Immunoglobulin E level was measured by electrochemiluminescence, and levels of immunoglobulins A, G, and M were measured by nephelometry. Simultaneous quantification of multiple cytokines was performed by chemiluminescence to measure the serum concentrations of interferon gamma, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17.

Results: Hematological cellular components were not significantly different before and after the use of estradiol (p = 0.332–0.984). Serum concentrations of immunoglobulins G, M, E, and A also remained stable (p = 0.248–0.845). Finally, cytokines were not modified throughout the 14–17 weeks of follow-up (p = 0.407–0.873).

Conclusion: Isolated estrogen therapy with 1 mg of estradiol for 14–17 weeks in postmenopausal women did not modify any of the cellular or humoral immune markers analyzed in this study.

Keywords:

• Sex steroids
• estrogen therapy
• menopause
• immune response

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Laboratório Santa Rosa, Cuiabá, MT, for the collection and storage of serum and for performing laboratory tests.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest related to the publication of this article. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.

Source of funding

Cytokine measurements were funded by a grant from the Research Support Foundation of the State of Mato Grosso (FAPEMAT).