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Effects of Hydrocortisone on the Differentiation of Human T Helper 2 Cells
Author(s) -
Sun L.,
Yu G.,
Yang S.,
Zhang L.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3083.2010.02500.x
Subject(s) - cd28 , stimulation , monoclonal antibody , flow cytometry , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , cytokine , umbilical cord , interleukin 4 , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , immunology , chemistry , t cell , antibody , endocrinology , immune system , in vitro , biochemistry
We investigated the effects of the neuroendocrine modulator hydrocortisone (HC) on Th2 differentiation of human naive CD4 + T cells with and without CD28 co‐stimulation. Human naive CD4 + T cells were isolated and purified from umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells from full‐term newborn infants. CD4 + T cells were treated with different concentrations of HC under Th0 or Th2 culture conditions. Th0 conditions included stimulation by immobilized monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against CD3 and CD28; Th2 conditions were the same + rhIL‐4. Parallel cultures excluded the CD28 mAb. Th1 (IL‐2, INF‐γ)‐ and Th2 (IL‐4, IL‐5)‐type cytokines were quantified in culture supernatants by ELISA and within cells by flow cytometry. For both Th0 and Th2 culture conditions, HC significantly inhibited Th1 cytokines’ release (IL‐2 and INF‐γ). For Th0 culture conditions, HC slightly increased IL‐4 expression (Th2 cytokine). However, for Th2 culture conditions, HC inhibited the IL4‐induced production of IL‐4. Although the absolute cytokine amounts were decreased, absence of CD28 co‐stimulation did not alter these ‘trends’. Our findings indicate that HC can alter the Th1/Th2 balance by inhibiting the production of Th1‐type cytokines. HC can also diminish the extensive Th2 differentiation induced by IL‐4.