EVIDENCE THAT GLUCOCORTICOSTEROIDS BLOCK EXPRESSION OF THE HUMAN INTERLEUKIN-6 GENE BY ACCESSORY CELLS

作者：BERND ZANKER, Gerd Walz, Kenneth J. Wieder, Terry B. Strom · 发表于：Transplantation · 年份：1990 · DOI：10.1097/00007890-199001000-00040 · 被引用次数：123 · 研究领域：Immune Cell Function and Interaction、Immune Response and Inflammation、Cytokine Signaling Pathways and Interactions

The mode of action of glucocorticosteroids as immunosuppressive and antiinflammatory agents is not fully understood. Glucocorticosteroids block synthesis of interleukin 1 by interfering with the transcription of the IL-1 beta gene. Glucocorticosteroids may also induce rapid degradation of IL-1 mRNA. In the presence of antigen, IL-1 is a potent accessory-cell-derived growth and differentiation co-factor for stimulating resting T lymphocytes. The recently defined interleukin 6 protein is even more powerful than IL-1 in promoting T cell growth and differentiation and acts synergistically with IL-1. Like IL-1, IL-6 is produced by accessory cells and exhibits pleiotropic functions. We herein describe the effects of glucocorticosteroids on IL-6 synthesis. We provide evidence that glucocorticosteroids prevent IL-6 gene transcription in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.