MODULATION OF ICAM-1, VCAM-1 AND HLA-DR BY CYTOKINES AND STEROIDS ON HUVECS AND HUMAN BRAIN ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS

The in vitro effects of dexamethasone (Dx) and low and high-dose 6-met hylprednisolone (MP) on the expression of adhesion molecules ICAM-1, V CAM-1 and class II antigen HLA-DR on human brain endothelial cells (HB ECs) was studied. HBECs were obtained from the surgical specimen of a multiple sclerosis patient undergoing brain surgery for vascular aneur ysm. HBECs obtained from apparently normal brain capillaries of surgic al specimens of two patients undergoing brain surgery for a meningioma and a low-grade glioma, respectively, were used as controls. The effe ct of steroids was studied both in the basal condition and after stimu lation with proinflammatory cytokines (gamma-IFN and TNF-alpha). In or der to detect possible endothelium local tissue specific differences, the experiment was repeated using human umbilical vein endothelial cel ls (HUVECs). Only high-dose MP was able to down-regulate TNF-alpha-ind uced VCAM-1 expression on endothelial cells. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.