The influence of cortisone and hydrocortisone on the production of circulating antibody in human beings

Effect of Prednisone Treatment on the Human Immune Response to Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin

“…On the contrary, the primary antibody response of the pred nisone-treated children tended to be higher than those of their matched controls (table II). No such difference was seen after secondary immuni zation, confirming the findings of prior investigations of the effect of steroids on the human immune response [2][3][4][5][6]17].…”

“…However, positive wheal and flare skin reactions were somewhat more frequent in the non steroid treated subjects 4 weeks after the second immunizing KLH dose than in the steroid-treated children. No unequivocal delayed type skin reactions were found in either group.While the immune response of some laboratory animals can be regu larly inhibited by cortisone, its congeners, or adrenocorticotropin [1], similar suppression has not been demonstrable in humans [2][3][4][5][6], These data, however, depended on the semiquantitative estimation of antibod ies produced in response to probably secondary (anamnestic) immuniza tions of humans, and included no assessment of the proportion of the immune response contributed by antibodies in the separate immunoglob ulin classes (IgG, IgA and IgM).We therefore undertook to determine whether the primary or second ary immune response of prednisone-treated children with asthma dif fered from those of similar children not thus treated. Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) was selected for its ability to produce an apparently 1 Wc thank the children who so freely cooperated with these studies.…”

Inhibition of Red Cell Sequestration by Cortisone

“…These reports have led to the conclusion that, in acquired hemolytic anemia, adrenal steroids must act primarily to suppress antibody synthesis. Certain objections to this conclusion may be raised: (a) Steroid-induced remissions in acquired hemolytic anemias may occur so rapidly (within a few days) that it is difficult to accept suppression of antibody synthesis as the primary effect of such therapy; (b) in man, suppression of antibody synthesis by cortisone has not yet been conclusively demonstrated (41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46), and (c) often no appreciable diminution in red cell sensitization (as measured by the antiglobulin titer) occurs early in cortisone-induced remission (47). On the other hand, these objections are not necessarily insurmountable.…”

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

“…It has already been noted [3][4][5][6] that studies of the effects of adrenal corticosteroids on the humoral immune response of humans have been inconclusive, but in general corticosteroids did not seem to suppress a secondary immune response in man. Recently, it has been reported [17] that (alternate day) therapy with prednisone was associated with an en hanced primary response (at 2 weeks) in asthmatic children immunized with keyhole limpet hcmocyanin (KLH).…”

“…Murine animals and rabbits are among the species most susceptible to the lymphocytolytic effects of steroids, whereas the lymphocytes of man are more refractory [2]. While corticosteroids have been reported not to suppress a humoral immune response in man [3][4][5][6], their effect on the in vitro immune response has received little attention in any species. However, recent evidence indi cates that hydrocortisone can replace serum in rabbit lymph node tissue cultures for the initiation of a secondary immune response in vitro [7][8].…”