title: The effect of methotrexate and glucocorticosteroids on apoptosis of phythemaglutinin-stimulated mononuclear cells from peripheral blood.
abstract: Immunosuppressive drugs are widely used in the therapy of autoimmune disorders. Induction of apoptosis is a key mechanism to destroy autoreactive T cells and attenuate immune responses. The aim of the study was to evaluate the apoptotic properties of methotrexate (MTX) and glucocorticosteroids (GS), dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, cortisone in cultured phythemaglutinin-stimulated mononuclear cells (MNC) from healthy subjects. Apoptosis of MNC was measured using two methods: Annexin V and TUNEL. The increase in MTX and GS concentrations led to progressive increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells. There was no statistically significant difference in percentage of apoptotic cells between cultures with MTX + GS and MTX alone. The results suggest that MTX and GS did not act synergistically, the addition of GS to MTX did not enhance the pro-apoptotic properties of MTX.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacokinetics and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, ul. Powst. Wlkp. 72, Poland. pawand@poczta.onet.pl
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pawlik
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baskiewicz-Masiuk
authors.forename: Bogusław
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Machaliński
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gawronska-Szklarz
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D008727:Methotrexate