ANDROGEN METABOLISM AND INHIBITION OF INTERLEUKIN-1 SYNTHESIS IN PRIMARY CULTURED HUMAN SYNOVIAL MACROPHAGES

THE presence of androgen receptors on synovial macrophages in human no rmal and rheumatoid synovial tissues has been described previously. It is now reported that primary cultured human macrophages obtained from normal and rheumatoid synovia express functional androgen receptors. We have investigated the capacity of cultured macrophages to metaboliz e androgens and have found that these cells were capable of metabolizi ng testosterone to the bioactive metabolite dihydrotestosterone. There fore, macrophages contain the key enzymes of steroidogenesis, in parti cular the 5 alpha-reductase. Furthermore, interleukln-1 beta productio n by primary cultured rheumatoid macrophages was analysed, following e xposure to physiological concentrations of testosterone (10(-8) M). A significant decrease of IL-1 beta levels in conditioned media after 24 h (p < 0.05) was observed. It is concluded that androgens may act dir ectly on human macrophages and may interfere with some of their functi ons via receptor-dependent mechanisms.