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Effects of acute injection of methylprednisolone in man on immunological and non‐immunological histamine release from leucocytes and its potentiation by interleukin‐3
Author(s) -
LOUIS R.,
BURY T.,
CORHAY J.L.,
RADERMECKER M.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1994.tb00918.x
Subject(s) - histamine , placebo , saline , long term potentiation , methylprednisolone , immunoglobulin e , medicine , endocrinology , in vivo , pharmacology , immunology , chemistry , biology , antibody , pathology , receptor , alternative medicine , microbiology and biotechnology
Summary We investigated the effects or intravenous injection of methylprednisolone (MPR) compared with placebo (saline) on ex vivo leucocytic histamine release in eight healthy volunteers. All subjects received in a randomized and a single‐blind manner the placebo and MPR, 20 mg and 125 mg, each injection given in 2 week intervals. On each occasion blood samples were taken just before and 24 h after the intravenous injection to determine circulating leucocyte counts and leucocytic histamine release induced by anti‐IgE (1/2000) and FMP (Formyl‐Methionyl‐Phenylalanine) (10 −5 M) and its modulation by IL‐3 (2 ng/ml). MPR 20 mg and 125 mg significantly increased circulating leucocyte counts ( P 0.05 and P < 0.001 respectively) but decreased leucocytic histamine content ( P 0.05 and P < 0.001 respectively) by 24 h. Placebo had no effect. As for circulating basophils, after 24 h they were decreased by 125 mg MPR ( P < 0.05) but increased by 20 mg ( P < 0.05). Anti‐IgE‐induced HR was significantly inhibited by 125 mg MPR ( P < 0.05) but not by 20 mg MPR or by the placebo. In contrast, neither MPR (20 mg and 125 mg) nor placebo significantly reduced FMP‐induced HR. The strong potentiation by IL‐3 of HR evoked by anti‐IgE and FMP at baseline ( P < 0.001) persisted 24 h after injection of MPR or placebo ( P < 0.001 except P < 0.05 for anti‐IgE‐induced HR after 125 mg MPR). We conclude that a single injection of a high dose of MPR can, after 24 h, decrease not only the number of circulating basophils but also their ‘releasability’ to an immunological stimulus, without preventing the potentiating effect of IL‐3.