Mechanism of the inhibitory effect of hydrocortisone on concanavalin A-induced activation of thymus cells. Role of interleukins.
Concanavalin A-induced activation of thymus cells compared to spleen or lymph node activation is extremely sensitive to the inhibitory effect of hydrocortisone (HC). This inhibitory effect of thymus cells, as observed at concentrations of 10(-7) M and higher, can be abrogated (at concentrations of up to 10(-5) M HC) by the addition of culture supernatants containing the product of activated T cells--Interleukin 2 (IL2), but not the supernatants containing the product of activated macrophages--Interleukin 1 (IL1). The protective effect of the IL2-containing supernatants can in part be removed by absorption with T cell blasts, but not B cell blasts. These results support the following notion of the mechanism of T cell activation. IL1 induces IL2 production by helper T cells and IL2, in turn, initiates proliferation of the sensitive T cells with IL2 receptors. These observations suggest that the inhibitory effect of HC on thymus cell activation results from inhibition of IL2 production.
D000818:Animals; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009928:Organ Specificity; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology
D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D003208:Concanavalin A; D006854:Hydrocortisone