Comparison of the immunomodulation of prednisone, dexamethasone and deflazacort on T-cell activation pathways and gamma-interferon production

The in vitro effects have been investigated of three different glucocorticoids (prednisone, dexamethasone and deflazacort, a new glucocorticoid belonging to the class of oxazolinosteroids) at different concentrations of T-cell activation pathways (i.e. PHA-induced and anti-CD3, anti-CD2 and anti-CD28 stimulated T-cell proliferation) and on gamma-interferon secretion. The results show that prednisone as well as deflazacort and dexamethasone exert a significant inhibition of immunological parameters in a dose-dependent manner. In terms of absolute number, deflazacort shows a stronger inhibition of the immune response