Defining the role of adenosine and glucocorticoids in down regulation of the inflammatory response associated with LPS activated macrophages - biomed 2011.

: During infection and inflammation, macrophages play a pivotal role in the generation of inflammatory mediators and regulation of innate and adaptive immune responses. They also contribute to resolution of inflammation. It is generally accepted that monocytes are relatively short living cells which die spontaneously in the absence of appropriate stimuli. Proinflammatory factors like lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are known to enhance survival of proinflammatory monocytes, and the signals released from cells within the inflammatory site result in local accumulation of a population of activated macrophages. Glucocorticoids and adenosine are thought to play a role on the inflammatory macrophages. Macrophage-like cells were activated with LPS in the presence of glucocorticoids (GC) or adenosine. Glucocorticoid suppressed the nitric oxide and cytokine response associated with LPS activation of macrophages, while adenosine down regulated cytokine response. Signaling mechanism may be different depending upon receptor activation.