Immunosuppressive dexamethasone

Immunosuppressants Cyclosporine (i) Tacrolimus Dexamethasone Rapamycin Valspodar (PSC833) (i)... 

Cortisol, the most important g/ucocorticoid, is synthesized by the adrenal cortex, it is involved in regulating protein and carbohydrate metabolism by promoting protein degradation and the conversion of amino acids into glucose. As a result, the blood glucose level rises (see p. 152). Synthetic glucocorticoids (e.g., dexamethasone) are used in drugs due to their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant effects. 

Glucocorticoids have potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. This is particularly evident when they are administered at pharmacological doses. A variety of synthetic glucocorticoids, some far more potent than cortisol, have been created for therapeutic use, such as hydrocortisone, prednisone, prednisolone, dexamethasone and betamethasone. 

Glucocorticoids -sone or -olone Cortisone, dexamethasone, prednisone, prednisolone, triamcinolone Anti-inflammatory (16, 29), immunosuppressants [37]... 

Corticosteroids such as prednisone or dexamethasone have lympholytic properties. They reduce the lymphoid contents of the lymph nodes and the spleen without influencing the myeloid or erythroid stem cells. Corticosteroids have the following pharmacological effects on immunosuppression ... 

Glucocorticoid activity refers to anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive and metabolic activities (e.g. diabetes). Dexamethasone shows significant glucocorticoid activity. Mineralocorticoid refers to the effects on both fluid and salt balance (e.g. sodium and water retention, potassium loss). Fludrocortisone (Florinef) shows marked mineralocorticoid activity. 

The antibacterial activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes is based on the production of superoxide anions and H2O2 in the respiratory burst. Combinations of an antibacterial agent and an anti-inflammatory drug are commonly used in immunosuppressed patients whose respiratory burst of poljmiorphonuclear leukocytes is impaired. An in vitro study has shown that the combination of a glucocorticoid (dexamethasone, methylpredniso-lone, betamethasone, hydrocortisone) with ofloxacin 10 mg/ml neutralizes the inhibitory effect of the former on the respiratory burst (15). 

Steroids, which are active following oral ingestion, such as prednisone, prednisolone, and dexamethasone, cause significant systemic immunosuppression, with consequent risks to the health of the patient. Since the inflammation associated with asthma is localized in the lungs, local topical delivery with aerosols has the... 

Sreerama, S., Sanderson, M. W., Wilkerson, M., and Nagaraja, T. G. (2008). Impact of dexamethasone-induced immunosuppression on the duration and level of shedding of Escherichia coli 0157 H7 in calves. Curr. Microbiol. 56, 651-655. 

Both lymphotactin and fractalkine are expressed in an activation-dependent manner. The expression of lymphotactin is upregulated by phorbol ester and concanavalin 1 in T-cells isolated from peripheral blood (Middel et al., 2001). It can be inhibited by anti-inflammatory steroid dexamethasone or immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporine A and FK506 (Middel et al., 2001). These agents also regulate the expression of lymphotactin receptor XCRl on T-cells in a manner similar to the regulation of lymphotactin expression. The nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NF-AT) family s transcription factors are likely to be involved in the activation-induced expression and cyclosporine A-dependent inhibition of lymphotactin (Yoshida et al., 1999). 

Figure 6 Survival of dexamethasone immunosuppressed DBA/2 mice following once daily IP treatments with LY303366 administered for 8 days, beginning 24 hours after IV inoculation of 1(X) conidia of A. /utnigaius WM-1.

Other therapeutic drug classes currently quantified by LC—MS in clinical laboratories include antiepileptic medications (levetiracetam [23]), immunosuppressive/antivirals (leflunomide [24]), and synthetic steroids (prednisolone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, and others [25]). 

Centrally acting anti-emetics such as 5HT antagonists (e.g. ondansetron) and antihistamines are effective in the treatment of prodromal symptoms. Low-dose glucocorticoids such as dexamethasone may also be considered, although high-dose steroid may cause further immunosuppression. 

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