Table 1.

Main anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids

Anti-inflammatory effect	Details
Proinflammatory cytokine production	Inhibition of IL-2, IL-3, IL-4(?), IL-5, IFN-γ, GM-CSF synthesis by T lymphocytes
	Inhibition of IL-1, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, MIF synthesis by macrophages/monocytes
	Inhibition of IL-8 synthesis by neutrophils
Anti-inflammatory cytokine production	Increase in IL-10, TGF-β, IL-1 receptor antagonist synthesis
Inflammatory cell migration	Inhibition of chemokine production (MCP-1, IL-8, MIP-1α)
	Stimulation of MIF and lipocortine-1 production by macrophages
Inflammation mediator expression	Inhibition of soluble PLA2, inducible COX-2 and inducible NOS synthesis
Cell membrane markers expression	Inhibition of CD14 expression on macrophages/monocytes
	Inhibition of adhesion molecule expression (ICAM-1, ECAM-1, LFA-1, CD2) on endothelial cells
Apoptosis	Activation of eosinophils and mature T lymphocyte apoptosis

COX, cylo-oxygenase; ECAM, endothelial cell adhesion molecule; GM-CSF, granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor; ICAM, intercellular adhesion molecule; IFN, interferon; IL, interleukin; LFA, leucocyte function associated antigen; MCP, monocyte chemoattractant protein; MIF, migration inhibitory factor; MIP, macrophage inflammatory peptide; NOS, nitric oxide synthase; PL, phospholipase; TGF, transforming growth factor; TNF, tumour necrosis factor.