COLONY FORMATION BY SUBPOPULATIONS OF LYMPHOCYTES-T .4. INHIBITORY EFFECT OF HYDROCORTISONE ON HUMAN AND MURINE T-CELL SUBSETS

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 54  (2) , 554-560
Abstract
The sensitivity of human T lymphocyte colony formation to hydrocortisone (HCS) was studied in the presence and absence of an exogenous source of interleukin-2 (IL-2). In the presence of IL-2, T colony formation by T inducer/helper (Th) cells was 100-fold more resistant to the inhibitory effect of HCS in vitro than colony formation by T suppressor/cytotoxic (Tsc) cells, the IC50 [median inhibitory concentration] values for HCS being 10-4 M and 10-6 M, respectively. In the absence of IL-2, Tsc cells do not form colonies and T cell colony formation by Th cells is inhibited 50% by < 5 .times. 10-8 M HCS. T lymphocyte colony formation by murine cortical thymocytes in vitro was inhibited by physiological concentrations of HCS in vitro, the IC50 value being 2 .times. 10-8 M HCS. T cell colony formation by medullary thymocytes and peripheral lymphocytes was 100-fold more resistant to HCS than control cells, the IC50 value being 2 .times. 10-6 M HCS.