Thymus-derived glucocorticoids and the regulation of antigen-specific T-cell development.
Bidirectional interactions of both a stimulatory and inhibitory nature occur between the neuroendocrine and the immune systems, and these interactions play an important modulatory role during T-cell ontogeny. Specifically, glucocorticoids potently induce apoptosis in thymocytes and activated T cells, but can also rescue these cells from activation-induced cell death. The objective of this review is to discuss current data on the interactions of the immune system with steroid hormones in the thymus and to describe a model that includes glucocorticoids in the shaping of the peripheral T-cell antigen-specific repertoire and deals with their potential role in the generation of autoimmune disease.
Tolosa
E
E
Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. 20892, USA.
Ashwell
J D
JD
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000502:physiology; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D013256:Steroids / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000502:physiology*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D013256:Steroids