Progesterone-Based Therapy Protects Against Influenza by Promoting Lung Repair and Recovery in Females

• Published in: PLoS pathogens Vol. 12; no. 9; p. e1005840
• Main Authors: Hall, Olivia J., Limjunyawong, Nathachit, Vermillion, Meghan S., Robinson, Dionne P., Wohlgemuth, Nicholas, Pekosz, Andrew, Mitzner, Wayne, Klein, Sabra L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.09.2016; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Amphiregulin - genetics; Amphiregulin - immunology; Animals; Antigens, CD - genetics; Antigens, CD - immunology; Apyrase - genetics; Apyrase - immunology; Biology and life sciences; Birth control; Care and treatment; Cytokines - genetics; Cytokines - immunology; Dosage and administration; Drug therapy; Environmental health; Epidermal growth factor; Female; Females; Funding; Health sciences; Immunology; Infections; Influenza; Influenza A virus; Influenza A virus - immunology; Lung; Lung - immunology; Lung - pathology; Lungs; Management; Maternal mortality; Medicine and health sciences; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Multivariate analysis; Orthomyxoviridae; Orthomyxoviridae Infections - genetics; Orthomyxoviridae Infections - immunology; Orthomyxoviridae Infections - pathology; Progesterone; Public health; Respiratory function; Rodents; Th17 Cells - immunology; Th17 Cells - pathology; Variance analysis; Viral diseases; Women's health; Womens health; United States > US; Maryland; Baltimore Maryland

Over 100 million women use progesterone therapies worldwide. Despite having immunomodulatory and repair properties, their effects on the outcome of viral diseases outside of the reproductive tract have not been evaluated. Administration of exogenous progesterone (at concentrations that mimic the lut...