B cell subsets in postmenopausal women and the effect of hormone replacement therapy

• Published in: Maturitas Vol. 37; no. 3; pp. 173 - 179
• Main Authors: Kamada, Masaharu, Irahara, Minoru, Maegawa, Masahiko, Yasui, Toshiyuki, Yamano, Syhuji, Yamada, Masayo, Tezuka, Mitiko, Kasai, Yuka, Deguchi, Keiichi, Ohmoto, Yasukazu, Aono, Toshihiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 31.01.2001; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Autoimmune disease; B-1 cell; B-2 cell; B-Lymphocyte Subsets - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; CD5 +B cell; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) - pharmacology; Female; Hormone Replacement Therapy; Hormones. Endocrine system; Humans; Medical sciences; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate - pharmacology; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Postmenopause; B-1 cell; Autoimmune disease; B-2 cell; CD5 +B cell; Autoimmunity; Human; Chemotherapy; Replacement therapy; Menopause; Autoantibody; Postmenopause; Female; B-Lymphocyte; Sex steroid hormone; Cell subpopulation; Humoral immunity
• ISSN: 0378-5122; 1873-4111
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-5122(00)00180-8

Objectives: In elderly subjects the capacity for antibody production is depressed. This immunosenescence state of humoral immunity is associated with the occurrence of autoimmune disorders involving CD5 + B (B-1) cells. Since estrogen is capable of stimulating the production of autoantibodies, this sex steroid hormone may be a contributing cause of the higher incidence of autoimmune diseases in women. In the present study, B cell subsets in women during the postmenopausal period was determined. The effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on B cell subsets was examined to establish whether the administration of gonadal hormones influence humoral immunity in postmenopausal women. Methods: Forty six untreated pre- and postmenopausal women and 39 women on HRT were studied. The proportion of B-1 (CD5 +) and conventional CD5 − B (B-2) lymphocytes was determined by two-color flow cytometry. Serum autoantibodies to a nuclear antigen and to interleukin (IL)-1α were measured by immunofluorescence and by radioimmunoassay, respectively. Thirteen women were examined prospectively before and during HRT. Results: In late postmenopausal women (≥30 years postmenopausal period), the proportion of B-2 cells was significantly reduced ( p<0.01) compared to those of premenopausal and perimenopausal women. HRT induced a significant ( p<0.01) increase in the percentage of B-2 cells, while that of B-1 cells remained unchanged. HRT did not affect autoantibody production. Conclusion: HRT may retard the progress of immunosenescence by increasing the production of B-2 cells. Moreover, HRT appears not to increase the risk of autoimmune diseases developing in postmenopausal women.