Effects of estradiol on the JAK/STAT pathway and the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines in a gonococcal infection model

[Objective] To explore the effects of Estradiol (E2) on the JAK/STAT pathway and the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines in a mouse spleen mononuclear cell model of gonococcal infection. [Methods] Mononuclear cell suspension was obtained from 8-10-week-old female C57BL/6 mice. The cells were divided into 4 groups: blank control group, E2 group, Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) group, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae+Estradiol (Ng + E2) group. Mononuclear cells in the blank group were incubated with 10% FBS + RPMI1640 medium, while cells in E2 group were incubated with 10%FBS+RPMI1640 medium+E2 solution. Mononuclear cells in the Ng group were cultured with 10% FBS + RPMI1640 medium + Ng lysate, and mononuclear cells in the Ng + E2 group were cultured with 10% FBS + RPMI1640 medium+Ng lysate+E2 solution. The number of mononuclear cells in each group was 2.0×107, and the final concentration of E2 was 108 mol/L. The Ng lysate was obtained by sonication of a Ng suspension in 1 mL of 2.0×107 CFU/mL. Real-time fluorescen