EFFECT OF β-HUMAN CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN (β-HCG) ON NEUTROPHIL FUNCTIONS

Many findings point to the presence of a close relationship between the immune, endocrine and neurologic systems. For example the suppressive effects of β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) on IL-l production, the potentiative effect of enkephalins on lymphocyte functions and the suppressive effect of leuteinizing hormone (LH) on natural killer (NK) cell activities have been clearly established. In this regard we have studied the effects of β-HCG on neutrophil function in vitro. This study was performed on 28 peripheral blood neutrophil samples (14 as test and 14 as control), by incubating neutrophil preparations with bacteria in the presence or absence of the hormone for one hour at 37°C. The results indicated that with 20 IU/mL of hormone, the total and intracellular bactericidal activities of neutrophils were• significantly increased (p<0.05), but the phagocytic activity remained unchanged.