Modulation of TNF-α, IL-1Ra and IFN-γ in equine whole blood culture by glucocorticoids

Publication date: Available online 4 March 2019Source: Veterinary Immunology and ImmunopathologyAuthor(s): Simon Rütten, Wieland Schrödl, Getu AbrahamAbstractGlucocorticoids are important drugs in the treatment of many inflammatory, autoimmune and allergic diseases in humans and animals. We investigated the effects of hydrocortisone and dexamethasone on TNF-α, IL-1Ra and INF-γ release in stimulated whole blood cell culture from healthy horses. Whole blood cell cultures proved to be useful for the characterization of the anti-inflammatory properties of new drugs.Diluted equine whole blood was exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and PCPwL (a cocktail consisting of phythemagglutinin E, concanavalin A, pokeweed mitogen and lipopolysaccharide) in the presence or absence of hydrocortisone and dexamethasone (10-12 – 10-5 M). TNF-α and IL-1Ra (LPS) as well as IFN-γ (PCPwL) levels were measured in the supernatants using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The LPS-induced TNF-α and IL-1Ra as well as the PCPwL-induced IFN-γ levels were more potently suppressed by dexamethasone than by hydrocortisone in a concentration-dependent manner. Dexamethasone inhibited TNF-α, IL-1Ra and IFN-γ with the half maximal inhibition concentration (IC50) values of 0.09 µM, 0.453 µM and 0.001 µM, respectively, whereas hydrocortisone inhibited these cytokines with lower IC50 values of 1.45 µM, 2.96 µM and 0.09 µM, respectively. Our results suggest that the equine whole blood...
Source: Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research