title: A gradient of glucocorticoid sensitivity among helper T cell cytokines.
abstract: Helper T (Th) cells secret specific cytokines that promote immune responses whereas glucocorticoids limit the extent of immune responses by inhibiting cytokine secretion and other functions of Th cells. However, glucocorticoid resistance develops in subgroups of patients with Th cell-driven diseases such as asthma and Crohn's disease. Recent evidence supports that Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells have distinct glucocorticoid sensitivity. Th1 cells are sensitive to glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis and cytokine suppression while Th2 cells are sensitive to the latter but not the former and Th17 cells are resistant to both. This gradient of glucocorticoid sensitivity of Th cells corresponds to the glucocorticoid sensitivity of the diseases they underlie. We identify the mechanisms contributing to distinct glucocorticoid sensitivity of Th cells and their cytokines in the literature, as this information is useful to improve treatment strategies for glucocorticoid resistant immunological disorders.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy-Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States, United States.
authors.forename: Jesus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Banuelos
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy-Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States, United States. Electronic address: nickzlu@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Nicholas Z
authors.initials: NZ
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D005938:Glucocorticoids
keywords: Glucocorticoid; IL-17; Th1; Th17; Th2