Effects of sex hormones on apoptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Objective: To study the effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and/or estradiol (E2) on apoptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: The percentage of apoptosis of PBMCs from SLE patients and healthy blood donors were examined by means of AO staining 48 h after culture with DHEA and/or E2 at physiologic or pathologic concentrations.

Results: The percentage apoptosis of PBMCs from SLE patients is higher than that of healthy blood donors (P < 0.01). E2, whether at physiological or at pathological concentrations, had no effects no apoptosis of PBMCs from both SLE patients and healthy donors (P > 0.05). Both DHEA and DHEA plus E2 at physiologic concentrations, had no effect on apoptosis of PBMCs from healthy donors (P > 0.05), but significantly inhibited that of SLE patients (P < 0.05); at pathologic concentrations, they promoted apoptosis of PBMCs from SLE patients as well as healthy blood donors (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the effects of DHEA and that of DHEA plus E2 (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: DHEA plays an important role in the apoptosis of PBMCs from SLE patients; low serum levels of DHEA may cause accelerated apoptosis.