Open AccessProgesterone: A Unique Hormone with Immunomodulatory Roles in Pregnancy
Author(s) -
Raj Raghupathy,
Júlia Szekeres-Barthó
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
international journal of molecular sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.455
H-Index - 162
eISSN - 1661-6596
pISSN - 1422-0067
DOI - 10.3390/ijms23031333
Subject(s) - pregnancy , immune system , dydrogesterone , progestogen , medicine , miscarriage , hormone , immunology , estrogen , bioinformatics , endocrinology , biology , genetics
Progesterone is well known for its numerous endocrinologic roles in pregnancy but is also endowed with fascinating immunomodulatory capabilities. It can downregulate the induction of inflammatory reactions, the activation of immune cells and the production of cytokines, which are critical mediators of immune responses. These features appear to be critical to the success of pregnancy, given the ability of maternal immune reactivity to interfere with pregnancy and to contribute to several pregnancy complications. This review summarizes the contribution of maternal immune effectors in general, and cytokines in particular, to pregnancy complications such as recurrent miscarriage, pre-eclampsia and preterm labor; it describes the promise offered by supplementation with progesterone and the oral progestogen dydrogesterone, as well as the progesterone-induced blocking factor in the prevention and/or treatment of these serious complications.