Fig. 3

Corticosteroid-induced cell death is dampened by the female sex hormone progesterone. Dexamethasone-induced cell death (a, % 7AAD⁺) and apoptosis (b, % Annexin V⁺ 7AAD⁻) of a Th2 cell line (CCRF-CEM) in the presence or absence of progesterone (2 μM, n = 5). Head-to-head comparison of apoptosis following treatment with prednisolone (c) or dexamethasone (d) with or without progesterone (n = 4). The half maximal response (EC₅₀) for dexamethasone and prednisolone in the presence of progesterone (e). Influence of progesterone on the maximal response of prednisolone- or dexamethasone-induced apoptosis (f). Efficacy of prednisolone vs dexamethasone to induce apoptosis in the presence of prednisolone (g). Data represent mean and standard error. Pred, prednisolone; Dex, dexamethasone; Prog, progesterone; Pre, pretreatment. *p < 0.05 determined by one-way (a-e) or two-way (f & g) RM ANOVA