In vivo and in vitro effects of glucocorticoids on lectin-induced blastogenesis in atopic dermatitis.
The effects of glucocorticoids administered in vivo and in vitro on lectin-induced proliferation of lymphocytes sampled from venous blood were investigated in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and in normal controls. Stimulation by concanavalin A (Con A), phytohaemagglutinin A (PHA) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) in patients and controls did not differ significantly under baseline conditions. After in vivo administration of methylprednisolone the decline of Con A-induced blastogenesis of leucocytes was similar in both groups, whereas PHA stimulation caused a significant reduction in the controls only. In vitro addition of different dexamethasone concentrations had a pronounced suppressive effect on Con A- and PHA-induced blastogenesis in both groups, whereas PWM stimulation was unaffected. Pretreatment in vivo with methylprednisolone further decreased the suppression of the Con A and PHA lymphocyte proliferation rate by dexamethasone added in vitro in controls but not in patients. With regard to B-cell proliferation generated by PWM, no consistent glucocorticoid effect could be observed. The impaired effect on lymphocyte blastogenesis of glucocorticoids administered in vivo, in contrast to a normal in vitro reaction to dexamethasone, together with recent findings of an altered glucocorticoid receptor pharmacology in AD, points to a decreased biological in vivo efficiency of methylprednisolone in atopic dermatitis.
Department of Dermatology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Federal Republic of Germany.
M
M
Rupprecht
R
R
Rupprecht
N
N
Wodarz
H U
HU
Braner
J
J
Kornhuber
H U
HU
Koch
P
P
Riederer
O P
OP
Hornstein
D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003208:Concanavalin A; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D037102:Lectins; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D003907:Dexamethasone