Abstract
The human leukocyte migration test, which is an in vitro correlate of cell-mediated immunity, was employed to investigate the effect of glucocorticosteroids on streptokinase-streptodornase (SK-SD)-induced leukocyte migration inhibition. The migration of peripheral blood leukocytes from three individuals lacking delayed hypersensitivity to SK-SD was not significantly inhibited in the presence of this antigen. In contrast, the leukocytes from eleven subjects with positive skin reactions to SK-SD showed significant migration inhibition when cultured with this antigen. The SK-SD-induced significant leukocyte migration inhibition was abolished when leukocytes were cultured with SK-SD and dexamethasone or hydrocortisone simultaneously. The effect of glucocorticosteroids was dose-dependent. Glucocorticosteroids had no lympholytic effect and did not alter leukocyte migration in the absence of antigen stimulation. The effect of glucocorticosteroids was irreversible because it was observed even after preincubation of the buffy coat leukocytes with dexamethasone or hydrocortisone for 30 min followed by their complete removal from the cell cultures to which SK-SD was then added. These findings are discussed. It is suggested that glucocorticosteroids block the action of leukocyte inhibitory factor on its effector cells.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 10-14 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Materia Medica Polona |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| State | Published - 1979 |