Consistent production of a higher T(H)1 : T(H)2 cytokine ratio by stimulated T cells in men compared with women

Objective: To evaluate the T helper 1 (TH1)/T helper 2 (T(H)2) lymphocyte c ytokine profiles in women and men and to study the in vitro effects of sex hormones on lymphocyte secretion of cytokines. Methods: Analysis of serum concentration and lymphocyte synthesis of T(H)1 (gamma interferon (INF-gamma) and interleukin 2 (IL-2)) and T(H)2 (interleu kin 4 (IL-4) and interleukin 10 (IL-10)) cytokines was performed in 20 wome n and 15 men, Analysis of modifications in cytokine secretion induced by su pplementation of lymphocyte culture with increasing concentrations of sex h ormones was carried out. Results: Higher levels of INF-gamma and IL-2 and lower levels of IL-4 and I L-10 were detected in the phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocyte culture supernatants of men compared with women; the INF-gamma:IL-4 ratio was signi ficantly higher in men, In women, similar concentrations of all the cytokin es were detected in culture supernatants obtained during the follicular and the luteal phases. The addition of sex hormones did not modify the concent ration of cytokines in supernatants of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated T-cell cultures. Conclusions: Women present a predominant T(H)2 cytokine profile, which coul d be involved in immune responses characterized principally by the secretio n of antibodies. This could be a factor implicated in the higher concentrat ion of immunoglobulins or the increased prevalence of autoimmune diseases d etected in females.