H. Bessler et al., Effects of dexamethasone on IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha production by mononuclear cells of newborns and adults, BIOL NEONAT, 75(4), 1999, pp. 225-233
The effects of dexamethasone on the production of interleukin (IL) 1 beta,
IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha were studied in preterm newborns, ter
m infants, and adults. Twenty preterm and 22 term newborns and 30 healthy a
dults were included in the study. Mononuclear cells (MC) isolated from cord
blood of newborns and peripheral blood of adults were incubated without or
with lipopolysaccharide in the absence or presence of dexamethasone at con
centrations between 10(-8) and 10(-5) M. The cytokine concentration in the
supernatants was tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Altho
ugh a dose-dependent inhibition of the cytokine production was observed at
pharmacological doses of dexamethasone in individuals of the three groups,
differences in the intensity of the effect were observed between the groups
. Spontaneous secretion of IL-1 beta or IL-6 by MC of preterm neonates was
less inhibited by dexamethasone as compared with cells from adults. In cont
rast, the inhibitory effect of the drug on lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-6
and tumor necrosis factor alpha production was more pronounced on neonatal
cells. As for term newborns, MC were more sensitive to the inhibitory effec
t of the drug on LPS-induced IL-6 production than cells of adults. The resu
lts suggest that dexamethasone treatment of preterm newborns may affect cyt
okine production with a consequent modulation of the host's immune response
.