Effects of dexamethasone on IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha production by mononuclear cells of newborns and adults

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 .