Objective:This study aims to investigate the effects of progesterone on the expression of NLRP3 and the differentiation of Th17/Treg in murine splenocytes infected by Neisseria gonorrhoeae(Ng). Methods:Murine splenocytes were isolated in vitro,and randomly divided into five groups:control group,Ng group,Ng+1×10-9 mol/L progesterone group,Ng+1×10-8 mol/L progesterone group,Ng+1×10-7 mol/L progesterone group. The splenocytes were collected after 3 days of culture,the proportions of Th17/Treg cells were detected by intracellular staining using flow cytometry. The mRNA expressions of NLRP3,Th17/Treg-specific transcription factors RORγt and Foxp3 in murine splenocytes were detected by real-time PCR. The protein expression levels of NLRP3,Caspase-1p20,RORγt and Foxp3 in murine splenocytes were determined by Western blot. The concentrations of interleukin(IL)-1β and Th17/Treg related cytokines IL-17,transforming growth facfor(TGF)-β,IL-10 in the supernatant were detected by ELISA. Results:Under the stimulation of Ng,the proportions of Th17 cells and Treg cells,the mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3,Th17/Treg-specific transcription factors RORγt and Foxp3 in the splenocytes,the protein levels of Caspase-1p20 and the concentrations of IL-1β,IL-17,TGF-β and IL-10 in the supernatant increased than those in the controls(P < 0.01). After pretreated with progesterone,the proportion of Th17 cells,the mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3 and RORγt in the splenocytes,the protein levels of Caspase-1p20 and the concentrations of IL-1β and IL-17 in the supernatant were significantly lower than those in Ng group. The proportion of Treg cells,the mRNA and protein levels of Foxp3 in the splenocytes and the concentrations of TGF-β and IL-10 in the supernatant were significantly higher than those in Ng group(P < 0.01). Conclusion:Progesterone can inhibit the expression of NLRP3 and Th17 differentiation,and promote the differentiation of Treg cells in murine splenocytes induced by Ng infection.