The effects of in vivo hydrocortisone on lymphocyte‐mediated cytotoxicity

• Published in: Arthritis and rheumatism 1984-01, Vol.27 (1), p.72-78
• Main Authors: Katz, Paul, Zaytoun, Annette M., Lee Jr, James H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Chromium Radioisotopes; Female; Humans; Hydrocortisone - pharmacology; Immunomodulators; Killer Cells, Natural - drug effects; Kinetics; Lymphocytes - drug effects; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments
• ISSN: 0004-3591; 1529-0131
• DOI: 10.1002/art.1780270112

To examine the effects of in vivo hydrocortisone sodium succinate (HC) on natural killer (NK) cell and antibody‐dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), 11 normal adults received a single intravenous bolus of 400 mg hydrocortisone. Lymphocytes were tested for NK activity and ADCC using 51chromium (51Cr)‐release and single cell cytotoxicity assays against Molt‐4 and sensitized RL ˆ→ target cells; respectively. Four hours after injection, both NK and ADCC activity were transiently increased in the 51Cr‐release system (P < 0.05). At 4 hours, there was a twofold increase in the relative frequency of potentially cytotoxic target binding cells (P < 0.001) but the absolute number of these cells did not change (P < 0.1). However, the percentage lysis of bound targets at 4 hours was not altered (P > 0.1). These data suggest that: 1) lymphocytes participating in NK and ADCC reactions are refractory to the kinetic and functional effects of HC; 2) the increased lytic activity observed at 4 hours is due to a selective depletion of noncytotoxic cells from the circulation; and 3) NK and ADCC activity did not differ in their responses to HC.