OBJECTIVE: To investigate if sexual activity moderated menstrual cycle-related shifts in cytokines associated with T-helper type 1 ( @entity1198 ) cells (e.g., interferon [IFN] y) and @entity1605 (TH2) cells (e.g., interleukin [IL] 4). Immune activity shifts across the menstrual cycle, with higher follicular-phase @entity1198 -cell activity but higher luteal-phase TH2-cell activity. Little is known about how social behaviors alter @entity1198 -TH2 ratios, despite evidence that psychosocial factors can influence immunity. Of particular interest is how sexual activity influences immune responses that may support conception, such as the @entity1198 -TH2 balance. DESIGN: @entity1 provided saliva samples at four time points (menstrual, follicular, ovulatory, and luteal phases), which were assayed by means of ELISA. SETTING: Academic laboratory. @entity1 (S): Thirty healthy premenopausal @entity1 (16 sexually abstinent, 14 sexually active) not taking hormonal or immunoactive medications. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Salivary E2, P, IFN-y, and @entity3646 . RESULT(S): Sexually active, but not abstinent, @entity1 were significantly more likely to express @entity379 < @entity3646 ) in the luteal phase than in other phases. Similarly, sexually active @entity1 had significantly higher P, and higher @entity19578 ratios, in the luteal phase than did abstinent @entity1 . The @entity19578 ratio mediated menstrual variations in cytokine ratios in sexually active @entity1 . CONCLUSION(S): These results support the hypothesis that shifts in immune response across the menstrual cycle may reflect tradeoffs between reproduction and immunity. These findings point to the need for further research on the interaction between sexual behavior, the menstrual cycle, and immune response.

Sexual activity modulates shifts in  XXXX /TH2 cytokine profile across  the  menstrual cycle: an observational  study.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['PARTICIPANT', 'women', 'Participants'] @entity1605 :: ('OMIM:217000', 'Disease') :: ['T-helper type 2'] @entity19578 :: ('2077', 'Gene') :: ['P-E2'] @entity1198 :: ('51497', 'Gene') :: ['TH1'] @entity379 :: ('3458', 'Gene') :: ['TH2-like cytokine ratios (IFN-y'] @entity3646 :: ('3565', 'Gene') :: ['IL-4']
@entity1198 :: (51497,Gene) :: ['TH1']
