title: Effects of hydrocortisone on the differentiation of human T helper 2 cells.
abstract: We investigated the effects of the neuroendocrine modulator hydrocortisone (HC) on Th2 differentiation of human naive CD4+ T cells with and without CD28 co-stimulation. Human naive CD4+ T cells were isolated and purified from umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells from full-term newborn infants. CD4+ T cells were treated with different concentrations of HC under Th0 or Th2 culture conditions. Th0 conditions included stimulation by immobilized monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against CD3 and CD28; Th2 conditions were the same + rhIL-4. Parallel cultures excluded the CD28 mAb. Th1 (IL-2, INF-γ)- and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5)-type cytokines were quantified in culture supernatants by ELISA and within cells by flow cytometry. For both Th0 and Th2 culture conditions, HC significantly inhibited Th1 cytokines' release (IL-2 and INF-γ). For Th0 culture conditions, HC slightly increased IL-4 expression (Th2 cytokine). However, for Th2 culture conditions, HC inhibited the IL4-induced production of IL-4. Although the absolute cytokine amounts were decreased, absence of CD28 co-stimulation did not alter these 'trends'. Our findings indicate that HC can alter the Th1/Th2 balance by inhibiting the production of Th1-type cytokines. HC can also diminish the extensive Th2 differentiation induced by IL-4.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurology Medical Examination Center Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005312:Fetal Blood; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D006854:Hydrocortisone