Regulation of Human Cellular Immune Responses by Glucocorticosteroids

摘要: That glucocorticosteroids (GCS) are involved in the regulation of immune response was implied by Dr. Addison as early 1850’s, his observations on disease states which today carry name. It not until 1930’s when it demonstrated that GCS exhibit powerful thymolytic and lympholytic activities vivo later (1940’s) vitro. During decade 1940 Hench colleagues reported spectacular therapeutic effects cortisone patients with rheumatoid arthritis (1). next were used extensively treatment various diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus. 1960’s several investigators started intensive studies aimed at dissection metabolic cells (2–4). The 1970’s saw elegant addressed question immunoregulation associated both vitro (5–8). have been found to modulate every phase human animal responses. Several described different phases cannot be easily integrated define precise mechanism(s) action these agents. Studies animals helped significantly understanding mode GCS. ultimate modulation has impeded concentration ranges obtain optimal In addition interspecies differences tissue sensitivity makes extrapolation results from humans difficult (8,9). present chapter will update current knowledge cellular response, i.e. peripheral mononuclear cells, cytotoxic proliferative responses, suppressor cell function, lymphokine production B lymphocyte