PeproTech Inc.
Originally published online as doi:10.1189/jlb.0605296 on May 2, 2006

Published online before print May 2, 2006
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
jlb.0605296v1
80/1/133    most recent
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Fahey, A. J.
Right arrow Articles by Constantinescu, C. S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Fahey, A. J.
Right arrow Articles by Constantinescu, C. S.
(Journal of Leukocyte Biology. 2006;80:133-144.)
© 2006 by Society for Leukocyte Biology

Effects of glucocorticoids on STAT4 activation in human T cells are stimulus-dependent

Angela J. Fahey*, R. Adrian Robins{dagger}, Karin B. Kindle{ddagger}, David M. Heery{ddagger} and Cris S. Constantinescu*,1

Divisions of
* Clinical Neurology and
{dagger} Molecular and Clinical Immunology and
{ddagger} School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom

1 Correspondence: Division of Clinical Neurology, Queens Medical Centre, Medical School, University of Nottingham, UK, NG7 2UH. E-mail: cris.constantinescu{at}nottingham.ac.uk

Glucocorticoids affect the immune system by a number of mechanisms, including modulation of cytokine production in lymphocytes. Glucocorticoids suppress T helper cell type 1 immune responses by decreasing the ability of T cells to respond to interleukin (IL)-12, a major inducer of interferon (IFN)-{gamma}. IFN-ß increases the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and suppresses IL-12. Signaling pathways through IFN-ß and the IL-12 receptor (IL-12R) involve activation by phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4). Our aim was to investigate the effects of dexamethasone on STAT4 activation by IFN-ß and IL-12 in human T cell blasts. We report that dexamethasone decreases IL-12-induced STAT4 phosphorylation and IFN-{gamma} production and enhances IFN-ß-induced STAT4 activation and IL-10 production. These effects are associated with a down-regulation of IL-12Rß1 expression but an up-regulation of IFN-ßR. These results indicate that the effect of glucocorticoids on the STAT4 signaling pathway depends on the stimulus activating that pathway.

Key Words: modulation • signal transduction




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Leukoc. Biol.Home page
A. J. Fahey, R. A. Robins, and C. S. Constantinescu
Reciprocal effects of IFN-{beta} and IL-12 on STAT4 activation and cytokine induction in T cells
J. Leukoc. Biol., June 1, 2007; 81(6): 1562 - 1567.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]