title: Comparative analysis of steroid sensitivity of T helper cells in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glucocorticoid (GC) action on asthma has been partly explained by the inhibition of T cell activation. We analyzed the steroid sensitivity of ovalbumin (OVA) reactive helper T (Th) cell clones both in vitro and in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  For in vitro experiments, Th clones were cultured with antigen-presenting cells, OVA, and various concentrations of dexamethasone (DEX). The proliferative response of each Th clone was measured by (3)H-thymidine uptake. For in vivo experiments, unprimed BALB/c mice were transferred with Th clones, challenged with OVA, and administered DEX subcutaneously. The number of infiltrating cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six Th clones were classified as steroid-sensitive or steroid-resistant clones in terms of the effects of GC on the proliferative responses analyzedin vitro. Airway infiltration of eosinophils and lymphocytes of mice transferred with steroid-sensitive clones were effectively inhibited by the administration of DEX. In contrast, those of mice transferred with steroid-resistant clones were not significantly inhibited by DEX; the number of eosinophils in the BALF of mice transferred with 1 steroid-resistant clone, i.e. T5-1, was only partially reduced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The steroid sensitivity of Th clones measured in vitro was consistent with that of an adoptively transferred asthma model measuredin vivo. Steroid-sensitive and resistant asthma models seem valuable for understanding the mechanisms of steroid resistance in severe asthma.
authors.affiliation: National Hospital Organization, Sagamihara National Hospital, Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, Sagamihara, Japan.
authors.forename: Akemi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohtomo
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koyama
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kaminuma
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mori
mesh_terms: D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D002452:Cell Count; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000276:immunology*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D013256:Steroids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D013256:Steroids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D010047:Ovalbumin