Decreased immunosuppressive effect of cortisol on natural killercytotoxic activity in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type
S.B. Solerte
Bok Engelsk 1998
| Utgitt | 1998
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| Omfang | Side 149- 156
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| Opplysninger | Former studies have indicated alterations of the cytotoxic activityof natural killer (NK) cells in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type(SDAT). These changes may be related to the increased reactivity ofNK cells with cytokines, even if an impairment of theimmunosuppressive effect of glucocorticoids cannot be excluded. Inthe present study we have demonstrated a lower immunosuppressiveeffect of cortisol on NK cytolytic function in patients with SDATthan in healthy elders and in patients with dementia of multi-infarctorigin (MID). This suppression is completely lacking when cortisol isemployed at low concentrations (10(-7) M) and is significantlyreduced after incubation at physiological (10(-6) M; p < 0.001) andsupraphysiological concentrations (10(-5) M; p < 0.001). The additionof IL-2 (50 and 100 IU/ml/cells) significantly antagonizes theeffects of cortisol in SDAT, whereas the cortisol-dependentimmunosuppression is partially maintained in healthy elders and inpatients with MID. Our data indicate that the defect of theimmunosuppressive effect of cortisol may play a role in NKdysregulation in SDAT, contributing to the cytokine-mediated NKoveractivity in this disease.
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| Emner |
