Effect of pregnancy hormone mixtures on cytokine production and surface marker expression in naïve and LPS-activated THP-1 differentiated monocytes/macrophages.

In pregnancy, maternal monocytes and macrophages acquire a specific phenotype that enables them to maintain immune tolerance and facilitate hormone–immune cell interactions, which are necessary for gestational progression. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of pregnancy hormone mixtures of the first and third trimesters on both resting and activated monocytes and macrophages. Pregnancy hormone levels (cortisol, estradiol, progesterone, and prolactin) were quantified at the first and third trimesters.