Immunoregulatory activity of type I interferons (IFNs) and estrogen is convergent in some cases of autoimmune disorders. The aim of our study was to determine whether a potent interaction of IFN and estradiol (E2) has an influence on immune response and estrogen receptor alpha (ER-α) expression in antigen-presenting cells in a model of experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO). C3H/He/W male mice were immunized with testicular germ cells (TGCs) and orally treated with interferon tau (IFN-τ), E2, or both simultaneously. The delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction was intensified after the administration of either IFN-τ or E2, but their co-administration had no effect. IFN-τ treatment increased immunoglobulin G2a (IgG2a) and decreased IgG1 levels of TGC-specific antibodies, whereas E2 abolished the effects of the used cytokine. The total splenic cellularity and the number of spleen CD11c+MHC II+ and F4/80+MHC II− cells were increased after IFN-τ treatment, whereas E2 antagonized this effect. After IFN-τ administration the level of ER-α was significantly higher in F4/80+MHC II− cells, whereas E2 had no effect. However, the administration of E2 significantly reduced the ER-α level in F4/80+MHC II+ and CD11c+MHC II+ cells in comparison with the IFN-τ–treated groups. In the EAO model, the type I IFN and E2 cooperated at the general and cellular levels of immune response, but E2 treatment usually abolished the effects exerted by the cytokine.
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