Treatment with progesterone analogues decreases macrophage Fcgamma receptors expression.

Macrophage Fcgamma receptors (FcgammaRs) are critical for host defense against infection and have an important role in immune cytopenias. Modulation of macrophage FcgammaRs expression is a potential therapeutic approach to immune disorders. Glucocorticoids and synthetic progesterone analogues decrease macrophage FcgammaRs expression. We assessed the effect of treatment with commonly employed progestins on the expression of macrophage FcgammaRs using an experimental model in the guinea pig. Eight clinically available progesterones, medroxyprogesterone acetate (P3), megestrol acetate (P4), medrogestone (P5), alylestrenol (P6), linestrenol (P7), didrogesterone (P8), norethisterone (P9), and gestonorone caproate (P10) and two endogenous progesterones, progesterone (P1) and 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (P2), were studied. Following in vivo treatment of guinea pigs, we determined the clearance of IgG-sensitized erythrocytes in vivo, the binding of IgG-sensitized erythrocytes by isolated splenic macrophages, and splenic macrophage Fcgamma receptor cell surface expression. All progesterones impaired the clearance of IgG-sensitized erythrocytes by decreasing splenic macrophage Fcgamma receptor expression. P5, P6, P7, and P8 were less effective. Flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy with monoclonal antibodies demonstrated that progesterones decreased the cell surface expression of FcgammaR2 more than that of FcgammaR1,2. Clinically employed progestins impair the clearance of IgG-coated cells by decreasing splenic macrophage FcgammaRs expression. Thus, progesterones are candidate drugs for the treatment of immune disorders. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.