The Inhibitory Effects of Prednisone, 16-Methylen-Prednisolone, and Acth on Con-A Induced Lymphokines (Interferon-Y) as Measured by the Chemiluminescence-Activity of Blood Monocytes

Abstract

When lymphocytes are stimulated with mitogens or antigens they are enhanced via a cascade of lymphokines to produce interferon-y (IFN-y). IFN-y augments the H₂O₂secretion of human monocytes which indirectly can be measured by chemiluminescence. We tested prednisone, 16-methylen. prednisolone and ACTH for their effect to inhibit the Con-A induced stimulation of the chemiluminescence-activity. All three hormones inhibited significantly the stimulation: prednisone up to 52.5 % (concentration = 150 m;g/ml, p=0.000005), 16-methylen-prednisolone up to 22.5 % (concentration = 2.5 & m g/ml, p=0.006) and ACTH up to 33 % (concentration = 10 m g/ml, p=0.0036).