Effect of Hydrocortisone on Immunoglobulin Synthesis and Secretion by Human Peripheral Lymphocytes <i>in vitro</i>

Abstract

Human peripheral lymphocytes in tissue culture synthesize immunoglobulin Ig which is secreted into the medium. The small amounts of Ig produced can be detected in nanogram quantities by a modification of the ammonium sulfate test. Ig formation by peripheral human lymphocytes was affected by hydrocortisone when the cells were briefly exposed to the hormone at the onset of incubation. When hydrocortisone was dissolved in culture medium or when the more soluble hydrocortisone-21-sodium succinate was employed, significantly increased in vitro synthesis of Ig was noted at 10^––⁹ to 10^––5 and 10^––10 to 10^––6 M, respectively (both p < 0.01). With hydrocortisone-21-sodium succinate, in the concentration range 10^––5 to 10^––3_M, no stimulation of Ig synthesis was observed and at 10^––3 M there was decreased Ig synthesis compared to the controls. Average lymphocyte viability at all concentrations was in the range of 39–52% but at the highest concentrations of hydrocortisone tended to be somewhat less, but not significantly. Similar results were obtained when hydrocortisone was dissolved in ethanol but lymphocyte viability was more variable in these experiments. Radioimmunoelectrophoretic and radioimmunodiffusion analysis of culture supernatants from culture including ¹⁴C-l-leucine showed that the only Ig formed was IgG; a β-globulin was also formed (radioimmunoelectrophoresis). These experiments demonstrate that human peripheral lymphocytes cultured in vitro interact with hydrocortisone to modify Ig synthesis.

Effects of in vitro corticosteroids on B cell activation, proliferation, and differentiation.

“…The effect of in vitro CSs on Ig production is variable depending on a number of experimental parameters (3). For example, in certain systems, in vitro Ig production is enhanced by the presence of CS in culture (34)(35)(36)(37). The CS-induced potentiation of the SAC-stimulated PFC responses is in agreement with these previously noted observations.…”

Immunoglobulin production in vitro in major depression: A pilot study on the modulating action of endogenous cortisol

“…In the pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-~:lriven Ig synthesis by cultured lymphocytes, physiological as well as supraphysiological doses of glucocorticoids have an enhancing property, provided that they are present at the beginning of the culture (Fauci et al 1977;Cooper et al 1979;Brieva et al 1983). In addition, Ig production can be induced by glucocorticoids in lymphocytes cultured in vitro in the presence of fetal calf serum (FCS), without the addition of any other mitogen (Smith et al 1972;Grayson et al 1981 ;Orson et al 1983). FCS seems to be required for this stimulating effect (Sierakowski and Goodwin 1988).…”

Immunoglobulin production induced in vitro by glucocorticoid hormones: T cell-dependent stimulation of immunoglobulin production without B cell proliferation in cultures of human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

“…In young chickens, treatment with cortisone resulted in the mobilization of B lymphocytes from the Bursa and enhanced the differentiation into mature immunoglobulin secreting plasma cells in the peripheral lymphoid tissues (8). Several in vitro studies of immunoglobulin production by human lymphocytes have also revealed a stimulatory effect of steroids (9,10). In some instances where suppressor cells are known to be present, steroids appear to enhance in vitro immunoglobulin synthesis, and this response has been thought to reflect inactivation or inhibition of suppressor cell function (11,12).…”