Skip to main content
The Journal of Clinical Investigation logoLink to The Journal of Clinical Investigation
. 1974 Dec;54(6):1337–1343. doi: 10.1172/JCI107880

Effects of Corticosteroids on Human Monocyte Function

John J Rinehart 1, Stanley P Balcerzak 1, Arthur L Sagone 1, Albert F LoBuglio 1
PMCID: PMC301688  PMID: 4612058

Abstract

This report examined the effect of corticosteroids in vitro on human peripheral blood monocytes, essential cells in both immune and nonimmune cellular defense mechanisms. Monocyte chemotaxis in response to sera, Escherichia coli filtrate, and lymphokine chemotactic factor was markedly reduced (P < 0.01) by hydrocortisone succinate (HCS) at 16 μg/ml. Methylprednisolone succinate and unesterified hydrocortisone produced similar impairment of monocyte chemotaxis while two drugs which unmodified do not enter cells, hydrocortisone phosphate (HCP) and cortisone acetate, had no effect on chemotaxis. HCS also significantly impaired monocyte random migration at 16 μg/ml. Monocyte bactericidal activity was reduced by HCS at 16 μg/ml (P < 0.01)) but was not affected by HCP even at 120 μg/ml. In comparison, HCS did not alter granulocyte chemotaxis even at 500 μg/ml, and bactericidal activity was reduced at 16 μg/ml (P < 0.01). Monocyte phagocytosis of cryptococci was reduced only 20% (P < 0.05) at 120 μg/ml. HCS at 120 μg/ml did not alter monocyte base-line or postphagocytic hexosemonophosphate shunt activity, viability by trypan blue exclusion, adherence to tissue culture flasks, or surface binding of IgG globulin. These corticosteroid-induced defects in monocyte function may contribute to reduced cellular defense during corticosteroid therapy.

Full text

PDF
1343

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Anderson R. J., Schafer L. A., Olin D. B., Eickhoff T. C. Infectious risk factors in the immunosuppressed host. Am J Med. 1973 Apr;54(4):453–460. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(73)90041-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BOVORNKITTI S., KANGSADAL P., SATHIRAPAT P., OONSOMBATTI P. Reversion and reconversion rate of tuberculin skin reactions in correction with the use of prednisone. Dis Chest. 1960 Jul;38:51–55. doi: 10.1378/chest.38.1.51. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Bach M. C., Adler J. L., Breman J., P'eng F. K., Sahyoun A., Schlesinger R. M., Madras P., Monaco A. P. Influence of rejection therapy on fungal and nocardial infections in renal-transplant recipients. Lancet. 1973 Jan 27;1(7796):180–184. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(73)90007-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Balow J. E., Rosenthal A. S. Glucocorticoid suppression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor. J Exp Med. 1973 Apr 1;137(4):1031–1041. doi: 10.1084/jem.137.4.1031. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Becker E. L., Davis A. T., Estensen R. D., Quie P. G. Cytochalasin B. IV. Inhibition and stimulation of chemotaxis of rabbit and human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. J Immunol. 1972 Feb;108(2):396–402. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Butler W. T., Rossen R. D. Effects of corticosteroids on immunity in man. I. Decreased serum IgG concentration caused by 3 or 5 days of high doses of methylprednisolone. J Clin Invest. 1973 Oct;52(10):2629–2640. doi: 10.1172/JCI107455. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Caner J. E. Colchicine inhibition of chemotaxis. Arthritis Rheum. 1965 Oct;8(5):757–764. doi: 10.1002/art.1780080438. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. DE DUVE C., WATTIAUX R., WIBO M. Effects of fat-soluble compounds on lysosomes in vitro. Biochem Pharmacol. 1962 Aug;9:97–116. doi: 10.1016/0006-2952(62)90015-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Fauci A. S., Dale D. C. The effect of in vivo hydrocortisone on subpopulations of human lymphocytes. J Clin Invest. 1974 Jan;53(1):240–246. doi: 10.1172/JCI107544. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Goetzl E. J., Austen K. F. Stimulation of human neutrophil leukocyte aerobic glucose metabolism by purified chemotactic factors. J Clin Invest. 1974 Feb;53(2):591–599. doi: 10.1172/JCI107594. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Hibbs J. B., Jr Heterocytolysis by macrophages activated by bacillus Calmette-Guérin: lysosome exocytosis into tumor cells. Science. 1974 Apr 26;184(4135):468–471. doi: 10.1126/science.184.4135.468. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Hibbs J. B., Jr Macrophage nonimmunologic recognition: target cell factors related to contact inhibition. Science. 1973 May 25;180(4088):868–870. doi: 10.1126/science.180.4088.868. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Horwitz D. A., Garrett M. A. Use of leukocyte chemotaxis in vitro to assay mediators generated by immune reactions. I. Quantitation of mononuclear and polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis with polycarbonate (nuclepore) filters. J Immunol. 1971 Mar;106(3):649–655. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Koller C. A., King G. W., Hurtubise P. E., Sagone A. L., LoBuglio A. F. Characterization of glass adherent human mononuclear cells. J Immunol. 1973 Nov;111(5):1610–1612. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. LePecq J. B., Paoletti C. A fluorescent complex between ethidium bromide and nucleic acids. Physical-chemical characterization. J Mol Biol. 1967 Jul 14;27(1):87–106. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(67)90353-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. LoBuglio A. F., Cotran R. S., Jandl J. H. Red cells coated with immunoglobulin G: binding and sphering by mononuclear cells in man. Science. 1967 Dec 22;158(3808):1582–1585. doi: 10.1126/science.158.3808.1582. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Mandell G. L., Rubin W., Hook E. W. The effect of an NADH oxidase inhibitor (hydrocortisone) on polymorphonuclear leukocyte bactericidal activity. J Clin Invest. 1970 Jul;49(7):1381–1388. doi: 10.1172/JCI106355. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Mowat A. G., Baum J. Chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. J Clin Invest. 1971 Dec;50(12):2541–2549. doi: 10.1172/JCI106754. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. North R. J. The action of cortisone acetate on cell-mediated immunity to infection. Suppression of host cell proliferation and alteration of cellular composition of infective foci. J Exp Med. 1971 Dec 1;134(6):1485–1500. doi: 10.1084/jem.134.6.1485. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. PETERSON R. E., WYNGAARDEN J. B., GUERRA S. L., BRODIE B. B., BUNIM J. J. The physiological disposition and metabolic fate of hydrocortisone in man. J Clin Invest. 1955 Dec;34(12):1779–1794. doi: 10.1172/JCI103233. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. READ R. C. Studies of red-cell volume and turnover using radiochromium; description of a new closed method of red-cell volume measurement. N Engl J Med. 1954 Jun 17;250(24):1021–1027. doi: 10.1056/NEJM195406172502402. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Reaven E. P., Axline S. G. Subplasmalemmal microfilaments and microtubules in resting and phagocytizing cultivated macrophages. J Cell Biol. 1973 Oct;59(1):12–27. doi: 10.1083/jcb.59.1.12. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Root R. K., Rosenthal A. S., Balestra D. J. Abnormal bactericidal, metabolic, and lysosomal functions of Chediak-Higashi Syndrome leukocytes. J Clin Invest. 1972 Mar;51(3):649–665. doi: 10.1172/JCI106854. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Sagone A. L., Jr, Metz E. N., Balcerzak S. P. Effect of inorganic phosphate on erythrocyte pentose phosphate pathway activity. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1972 Jan 28;261(1):1–8. doi: 10.1016/0304-4165(72)90306-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Snyderman R., Altman L. C., Hausman M. S., Mergenhagen S. E. Human mononuclear leukocyte chemotaxis: a quantitative assay for humoral and cellular chemotactic factors. J Immunol. 1972 Mar;108(3):857–860. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Stjernholm R. L., Burns C. P., Hohnadel J. H. Carbohydrate metabolism by leukocytes. Enzyme. 1972;13(1):7–31. doi: 10.1159/000459647. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Webel M. L., Ritts R. E., Jr, Taswell H. F., Danadio J. V., Jr, Woods J. E. Cellular immunity after intravenous administration of methylprednisolone. J Lab Clin Med. 1974 Mar;83(3):383–392. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Weston W. L., Claman H. N., Krueger G. G. Site of action of cortisol in cellular immunity. J Immunol. 1973 Mar;110(3):880–883. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Weston W. L., Mandel M. J., Yeckley J. A., Krueger G. G., Claman H. N. Mechanism of cortisol inhibition of adoptive transfer of tuberculin sensitivity. J Lab Clin Med. 1973 Sep;82(3):366–371. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Wilkinson P. C., Borel J. F., Stecher-Levin V. J., Sorkin E. Macrophage and neutrophil specific chemotactic factors in serum. Nature. 1969 Apr 19;222(5190):244–247. doi: 10.1038/222244a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Yu D. T., Clements P. J., Paulus H. E., Peter J. B., Levy J., Barnett E. V. Human lymphocyte subpopulations. Effect of corticosteroids. J Clin Invest. 1974 Feb;53(2):565–571. doi: 10.1172/JCI107591. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Zurier R. B., Hoffstein S., Weissmann G. Mechanisms of lysosomal enzyme release from human leukocytes. I. Effect of cyclic nucleotides and colchicine. J Cell Biol. 1973 Jul;58(1):27–41. doi: 10.1083/jcb.58.1.27. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Clinical Investigation are provided here courtesy of American Society for Clinical Investigation

RESOURCES