title: Selective suppressive effects of glucocorticoids on the early events in the human B cell activation process.
abstract: The effect of hydrocortisone on the induction of human B cell activation and proliferation has been described. Hydrocortisone prevents the anti-mu-induced cell enlargement of small tonsillar B cells, blocks expression of the activation markers 4F2 and 5E9 induced by anti-mu, inhibits RNA synthesis of small B cells stimulated by anti-mu with or without BCGF, and suppresses B cell proliferation in response to anti-mu and BCGF or to Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I. In contrast, hydrocortisone does not affect the proliferative response of in vitro or in vivo preactivated B cells. Therefore, hydrocortisone has a selective inhibitory effect on early events in the human B cell cycle that subsequently leads to inhibition of total RNA and DNA synthesis. Possible mechanisms of this action are discussed. These studies further define the nature of glucocorticoid-induced modulation of human B cell activation and proliferation.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000502:physiology; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007148:Immunoglobulin mu-Chains / Q000276:immunology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007700:Kinetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000944:Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006133:Growth Substances; D007148:Immunoglobulin mu-Chains; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008222:Lymphokines; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A; D015847:Interleukin-4; D012313:RNA; D006854:Hydrocortisone