title: Inhibition of granulocyte function by steroids is not limited to corticoids. Studies with sex steroids.
abstract: Noting that corticosteroid doses required for protection in shock models exceeded those required to saturate glucocorticoid receptors in mammalian cells, we postulated a nonspecific physicochemical effect of steroids upon the cell membrane, and therefore tested three noncorticoid steroids for their effects on granulocyte function. All three (conjugated equine estrogen, a synthetic progestogen, and a synthetic androgen) behaved in manner analogous to corticoids at similar concentrations, inhibiting granulocyte aggregation, chemotaxis, and chemiluminescence, as well as binding to the granulocytes of the synthetic oligopeptide agonist f-Met-Leu-Phe. Estrogen was further shown to reduce granulocyte membrane fluidity, assessed by electron paramagnetic resonance. We propose that the unique effects of extremely high-dose corticosteroids are not mediated via the glucocorticoid receptor, but result rather from physicochemical effects of the drugs upon the membranes of effector cells.
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008776:Methylprednisolone Hemisuccinate / Q000494:pharmacology; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine; D008776:Methylprednisolone Hemisuccinate