Pharmacological hyperprolactinemia attenuates hydrocortisone-induced expression of CD11b on human CD8+ cells in vivo.
OBJECTIVE
To study the short-term influences of pharmacologic hyperprolactinemia on hydrocortisone (HC)-induced effects on selected immune parameters.


METHODS
A single dose of HC (40 mg per os) was administered to eleven healthy female volunteers 1 h after domperidone (10 mg per os) or placebo administration. Immune cell subsets and expression of adhesion molecules was assessed by flow cytometry at baseline and 4 and 6 h after HC administration. Intracellular staining of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production in CD4+ lymphocytes after phorbol myristate acetate and ionomycin stimulation was performed at the same time points.


RESULTS
HC administration was followed by a significant increase in cortisol levels, numbers of leukocytes and granulocytes and the percentage of CD16+, CD19+, CD11a+, CD11a+CD8+, CD11b+ and CD11b+CD8+ cells. The number of lymphocytes and monocytes and the percentage of CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ ratio, CD62L+, CD54+ and CD54+CD16+ cells decreased, while the percentage of CD8+ cells was unaffected. Domperidone administration resulted in a significant increase in prolactin (PRL) concentrations. During hyperprolactinemia, the HC-induced increase in CD11b+CD8+ cells was significantly (p < 0.05) attenuated at 4 h. HC-induced changes in other immune parameters remained unaffected. No significant changes in the intracellular production of IL-4 and IFN-gamma in CD4+ lymphocytes were observed after a single dose of HC alone or during hyperprolactinemia.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows an attenuated HC-induced increase in CD11b+CD8+ cells in the peripheral blood of healthy females during hyperprolactinemia. Our in vivo observations suggest that short-term interactions occur between PRL and glucocorticoids, affecting selected immune functions. Further studies are needed for confirmation of these results.
Imrich
Richard
R
Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia. richard.imrich@savba.sk
Tibenska
Elena
E
Koska
Juraj
J
Rovensky
Jozef
J
Vigas
Milan
M
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018845:CD11 Antigens / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004294:Domperidone / Q000494:pharmacology; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D004347:Drug Interactions / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011388:Prolactin / Q000819:agonists / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D018845:CD11 Antigens; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D015847:Interleukin-4; D004294:Domperidone; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D011388:Prolactin; D006854:Hydrocortisone