Effects of 17β-estradiol and progesterone on interleukin-6 production and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Summary

The present investigation was performed to study the effects of steroids on interleukin-6 (IL-6) production and on proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). HUVEC were isolated and cultured in 24-well dishes until con-fluency was achieved. Afterwards cells were stimulated with either 17β-estradiol or progesterone at concentrations of 10⁻¹²−10⁻⁶ mol/1. IL-6 concentrations in cell supernatants were measured by ELISA and cell proliferation was determined by flow-cytometric assessment of S-phase-cells. 17β-estradiol significantly inhibited basal IL-6 secretion at doses of 10⁻¹²−10⁻⁶ mol/1 whereas progesterone had no measurable effects. Neither 17β-estradiol nor progesterone affected the proliferation rate of endothelial cells. The results of our study suggest that 17β-estradiol at non-pro-liferative doses regulates IL-6 secretion of endothelial cells and thereby modulates processes of vascular physiology.

Key words

Endothelial cells - cell proliferation - cytokines - interleukin-6 - steroids