Effect of Corticosteroid on Lymphocyte Adhesion

Abstract

Corticosteroids, such as methylprednisolone are used in the treatment of a number of ailments, including active rheumatoid arthritis.¹ It is generally noted that corticosteroids have a suppressive effect on the immune system both in vivo and in vitro. In particular, it has been noted that there is a depletion of lymphocytes from areas of the gut associated with mucosal immunity, and the suggestion has been made that this may be due to corticosteroid induced redistribution of lymphocytes.² In vivo work in male rats has also shown that a large proportion of methylprednisolone partitions to the intestine upon intravenous injection.³ Previous work has demonstrated a link between mucosal lymphocytes and rheumatoid arthritis.⁴ Using an in vitro cytoadherence assay⁵, adapted to a porcine model⁴, we have investigated the effect of methylprednisolone on lymphocyte adhesion, known to involve adhesion molecules which effect the trafficking of gut mucosal lymphocytes.⁶