Open AccessThe Stress Hormone Cortisol Enhances Interferon-ϒ–Mediated Proinflammatory Responses of Human Immune Cells
Author(s) -
Mark P. Yeager,
Cheryl A. Guyre,
Brian D. Sites,
Jane Collins,
Patricia A. Pioli,
Paul M. Guyre
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
anesthesia and analgesia/anesthesia and analgesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.404
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1526-7598
pISSN - 0003-2999
DOI - 10.1213/ane.0000000000003481
Subject(s) - proinflammatory cytokine , immune system , lipopolysaccharide , endocrinology , medicine , cytokine , monocyte , inflammation , stimulation , interleukin , interferon , immunology , hormone
Cortisol is a prototypical human stress hormone essential for life, yet the precise role of cortisol in the human stress response to injury or infection is still uncertain. Glucocorticoids (GCs) such as cortisol are widely understood to suppress inflammation and immunity. However, recent research shows that GCs also induce delayed immune effects manifesting as immune stimulation. In this study, we show that cortisol enhances the immune-stimulating effects of a prototypical proinflammatory cytokine, interferon-υ (IFN-υ). We tested the hypothesis that cortisol enhances IFN-υ-mediated proinflammatory responses of human mononuclear phagocytes (monocyte/macrophages [MOs]) stimulated by bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]).