THE IN-VITRO EFFECT OF 2 GLUCOCORTICOIDS ON SOME LYMPHOMONOCYTE AND NEUTROPHIL FUNCTIONS

It is well known that glucocorticoids exert a suppressive effect on th e immune system, involving several aspects of the immune response. Act ually, they are able to affect the distribution, growth, differentiati on and function of lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils. In this stu dy, the in vitro effect of deflazacort, an oxazoline derivative of pre dnisolone, on some immune parameters was evaluated and its activity wa s compared with that of 6-methylprednisolone. In particular, the PHA-i nduced lymphomonocyte proliferative response and production of IL-2, s IL-2R and IL-6, the monocyte production of TNF and neutrophil phagocyt osis, superoxide anion production and lysozyme and beta-glucuronidase release were considered. Both deflazacort and B-methylprednisolone wer e able to inhibit lymphomonocyte functions in neutrophil functions in a dose-dependent manner and at all the tested concentrations (10(-4) t o 10(-7) M). They also suppressed neutrophil functions, but, in such c ases, their effect on PMN phagocytosis and lysozyme release was detect able only at the two highest concentrations (10(-4) and 10(-5) M) whil e a stronger effect of both drugs on PMN superoxide anion production a nd beta-glucuronidase release was found. In conclusion, in these in vi tro experiments, both drugs were found to exert a similar immunosuppre ssive effect.