Glucocorticoids drive human CD8(+) T cell differentiation towards a phenotype with high IL-10 and reduced IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 production.
Glucocorticoids are highly effective in the treatment of allergy and asthma and inhibit the synthesis of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 by disease-promoting CD4(+) Th2 cells. CD8(+) T cells also synthesize these cytokines, and the aim of this study was to investigate how glucocorticoids effect cytokine production by these cells. When CD8(+) T cells are stimulated with anti-CD3 and IL-2 plus IL-4 or dexamethasone, production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 is low in both primary and secondary cultures restimulated with anti-CD3 and IL-2 alone. However, when both are present, a synergistic effect on IL-10 synthesis is observed. The additional presence of antigen-presenting cells (APC) in the priming culture maintains IL-10 levels, but inhibits IL-4 and IL-5 production. CD4(+) T cells develop a similar glucocorticoid-induced phenotype. These cells demonstrate regulatory activity and inhibit CD4(+) T cell activation in an IL-10-dependent manner. Earlier reports show glucocorticoids promote a Th2 phenotype by effects on purified naive T cells or pretreatment of APC. This study demonstrates, more critically, that when APC are present, glucocorticoids induce CD4 and CD8 T cell populations synthesizing high levels of IL-10, but greatly reduced amounts of disease-promoting IL-4 and IL-5.
Richards
D F
DF
Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, The Guy's, King's College and St. Thomas' Hospitals School of Medicine, London, GB.
Fernandez
M
M
Caulfield
J
J
Hawrylowicz
C M
CM
D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis
D016207:Cytokines; D018793:Interleukin-13; D015848:Interleukin-5; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D003907:Dexamethasone