GLUCOCORTICOIDS INHIBIT PROLIFERATION AND INTERLEUKIN-4 AND INTERLEUKIN-5 SECRETION BY AEROALLERGEN-SPECIFIC T-HELPER TYPE-2 CELL-LINES

Background: Glucocorticoids play an important role in the treatment of allergic disease. The atopic process, itself, may reduce the response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to these drugs. Objectiv e: In this study we compared the effect of hydrocortisone (HC), beclom ethasone (BDP), and mometasone (MF) on interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 sec retion by aeroallergen-specific T-helper type 2 cells (Th2) and prolif eration of PBMC from atopic donors. Methods: Cells were incubated with drug before stimulating with phytohemagglutinin and assessing prolife ration (PBMC) and cytokine secretion (Th2). Results: The glucocorticoi ds concentration dependently inhibited proliferation and cytokine secr etion, but had less effect on proliferation of cells from severe atopi cs than on cells from those whose symptoms required little treatment. The rank order of potency was MF (average IC50 0.01 nM) > BDP (4.0 nM) > HC (250 nM). Conclusions: These experiments demonstrate glucocortic oid inhibition of IL-4 and IL-5 secretion by human Th2-like cells and proliferation of PBMC from severely and mildly allergic donors.