Prednisone increases apoptosis in in vitro activated human peripheral blood T lymphocytes.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Prednisone increases apoptosis in in vitro activated human peripheral blood T lymphocytes.

Clin Exp Immunol. 1996 Mar;103(3):482-90. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/96188963
Lanza L; Scudeletti M; Puppo F; Bosco O; Peirano L; Filaci G; Fecarotta E; Vidali G; Indiveri F; Department of Internal Medicine (DI.M.I.), University of Genoa,; Italy.

Abstract: Glucocorticoid hormones (GCH) regulate, through the apoptotic process, the negative selection of immature T cells in the thymus. Because apoptosis seems to occur also in the maintenance of peripheral tolerance, we have investigated whether GCH may induce apoptosis in human mature lymphocytes. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) or peripheral CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell subsets were cultured in the presence of phytohaemaglutinin (PHA) or PHA and prednisone (PDN) at 10(-3)-10(-12)M concentrations for 72, 96 and 120h. Cell cycle and membrane antigen expression were evaluated by flow cytometry and DNA degradation was detected by agarose gel electrophoresis. PDN blocks PBL growth in the G1 phase of cell cycle and inhibits both IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) expression and IL-2 secretion. Apoptosis is clearly increased by PDN in PHA-activated human PBL, and the apoptotic effect of PDN is stronger on CD8(+) than on CD4(+) T lymphocytes. All these effects are dose- and time-dependent. The addition of exogenous IL-2 did not rescue lymphocytes from PDN-increased apoptosis. These results show that PDN increases apoptosis in mature activated human peripheral blood lymphocytes, suggesting a possible role of GCH in the maintenance of immune tolerance at post-thymic level.

Keywords: Adult Apoptosis/*DRUG EFFECTS Base Sequence Cell Cycle/DRUG EFFECTS Cells, Cultured CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/DRUG EFFECTS CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/DRUG EFFECTS DNA/METABOLISM DNA Damage Glucocorticoids/PHYSIOLOGY Human Interleukin-2/BIOSYNTHESIS/PHARMACOLOGY Lymphocyte Transformation/*DRUG EFFECTS Molecular Sequence Data Phytohemagglutinins/PHARMACOLOGY Prednisone/*PHARMACOLOGY Receptors, Interleukin-2/BIOSYNTHESIS Support, Non-U.S. Gov't T-Lymphocyte Subsets/DRUG EFFECTS T-Lymphocytes/*CYTOLOGY/DRUG EFFECTS/PHYSIOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE
960830
M9681212

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