Open Access Research

Alpha-defensins 1-3 release by dendritic cells is reduced by estrogen

Maria M Escribese1,2,3*†, Marta Rodríguez-García 4,5†, Rhoda Sperling6, Stephanie M Engel7, Teresa Gallart4 and Thomas M Moran1,2

Author Affiliations

1 Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

2 Immunology Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

3 Department of Molecular Microbiology and Infections Biology, CIB, CSIC, Madrid, Spain

4 Service of Immunology, Hospital Clinic Universitari de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

5 Department of Physiology, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA

6 Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Mount Sinai School, of Medicine, New York, NY,USA

7 Department of Preventive Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

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Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 2011, 9:118 doi:10.1186/1477-7827-9-118

Published: 23 August 2011

Abstract

Background

During pregnancy the immune system of the mother must protect any activation that may negatively affect the fetus. Changes in susceptibility to infection as well as resolution of some autoimmune disorders represent empirical evidence for pregnancy related alterations in immunity. Sex hormones reach extremely high levels during pregnancy and have been shown to have direct effects on many immune functions including the antiviral response of dendritic cells. Among the immunologically active proteins secreted by monocyte derived DCs (MDDC) are the alpha-defensins 1-3. This family of cationic antimicrobial peptides has a broad spectrum of microbicidal activity and has also been shown to link innate to adaptive immunity by attracting T cells and immature DCs, which are essential for initiating and polarizing the immune response.

Methods

We compare culture-generated monocyte derived DCs (MDDCs) with directly isolated myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and measure their alpha-defensins 1-3 secretion by ELISA both, in basal situations and after hormone (E2 or PG) treatments. Moreover, using a cohort of pregnant women we isolated mDCs from blood and also measure the levels of these anti-microbial peptides along pregnancy.

Results

We show that mDCs and pDCs constitutively produce alpha-defensins 1-3 and at much higher levels than MDDCs. Alpha-defensins 1-3 production from mDCs and MDDCs but not pDCs is inhibited by E2. PG does not affect alpha-defensins 1-3 in any of the populations. Moreover, alpha-defensins 1-3 production by mDCs was reduced in the later stages of pregnancy in 40% of the patients.

Conclusions

Here, we demonstrate that mDCs and pDCs secrete alpha-defensins 1-3 and present a novel effect of E2 on the secretion of alpha-defensins 1-3 by dendritic cells.