Dexamethasone down-regulates the expression of L-selectin on the surface of neutrophils and lymphocytes in humans.
OBJECTIVE
On the basis of previous animal studies, we hypothesized that dexamethasone may reduce the expression of L-selectin on neutrophils and lymphocytes in healthy men.


METHODS
A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, and three-way crossover trial was conducted in nine healthy men. Every subject received four identical infusions of saline solution, 0.04 mg/kg dexamethasone, or 1.0 mg/kg dexamethasone during three observation periods of 48 hours each.


RESULTS
Dexamethasone time and dose dependently decreased the L-selectin expression on neutrophils and lymphocytes as measured by flowcytometry. This effect occurred with a time lag of 8 hours after start of treatment: the L-selectin binding index of neutrophils decreased by a maximum of -50% (confidence interval [CI], -37% to -63%) and that of lymphocytes by -26% (CI, -8% to -45%) at 32 hours after the start of treatment with high-dose dexamethasone (p < 0.016). Low-dose dexamethasone had only a transient effect on L-selectin expression of lymphocytes and a less pronounced effect on L-selectin expression of neutrophils.


CONCLUSIONS
Dexamethasone time and dose dependently decreases L-selectin expression on neutrophils and lymphocytes in health men, an effect that is less pronounced than that previously reported for animals.
Jilma
B
B
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital of Vienna, Austria.
Voltmann
J
J
Albinni
S
S
Stohlawetz
P
P
Schwarzinger
I
I
Gleiter
C H
CH
Rauch
A
A
Eichler
H G
HG
Wagner
O F
OF
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D012016:Reference Values
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D019041:L-Selectin; D003907:Dexamethasone