Dual effect of glucocorticoids on apoptosis of human autoreactive and foreign antigen-specific T cells
Authors
- F. Zipp
- U. Wendling
- M. Beyer
- U. Grieger
- S. Waiczies
- B. Wagenknecht
- J. Haas
- M. Weller
Journal
- Journal of Neuroimmunology
Citation
- J Neuroimmunol 110 (1-2): 214-222
Abstract
The efficacy of glucocorticoids in the treatment of multiple sclerosis may involve the induction of T cell apoptosis. Here, we report that glucocorticoids have two different effects on the vulnerability of human antigen-specific T cells: (i) steroids induce T cell apoptosis in a CD95-independent, but caspase-dependent manner; (ii) steroids protect T cells from CD95-mediated apoptosis which, however, is also caspase-dependent. An increase in BCL-2 expression is observed upon incubation with steroids. Thus, inhibition of CD95-mediated T cell apoptosis may be an undesirable side-effect resulting in survival of activated T cells and the maintenance of pathogenic immune responses might explain the lack of long-term glucocorticoid therapy.