Effects of sex hormones on apoptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective To study the effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and/or estradiol (E(2)) on apoptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods The percentage of apoptosis of PBMCs from SLE patients and healthy blood donors were examined by means of AO staining 48 h after culture with DHEA and/or E(2) at physiologic or pathologic concentrations. Results The percentage apoptosis of PBMCs from SLE patients is higher than that of healthy blood donors (P < 0.01). E(2), whether at physiological or at pathological concentrations, had no effects on apoptosis of PBMCs from both SLE patients and healthy donors (P > 0.05). Both DHEA and DHEA plus E(2) at physiologic concentrations, had no effect on apoptosis of PBMCs from healthy donors (P > 0.05), but significantly inhibited that of SLE patients (P < 0.05); at pathologic concentrations, they promoted apoptosis of PBMCs from SLE patients as well as healthy blood donors ( P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the effects of DHEA and that of DHEA plus E(2) (P > 0.05). Conclusion DHEA plays an important role in the apoptosis of PBMCs from SLE patients; low serum levels of DHEA may cause accelerated apoptosis.