Inhibition of neutrophil Fc receptor function by cotricosteroids

The ability of hydrocortisone sodium succinate to inhibit the adherence of IgG-sensitized erythrocytes (EA) to human peripheral blood neutrophil monolayers is described. The steroid inhibitory effect was dose-dependent with a 32.4+/-2.4% decrease in EA binding at 2 X 10(-4)M. There was no difference between the addition of hydrocortisone prior to or at the same time as EA and steroid interference with EA binding was completely reversible. In addition, hydrocortisone was unable to displace bound EA. These findings suggest that hydrocortisone interferes with the availability of the neutrophil Fc receptor for binding and provides further insight into the host factors which are compromised during corticosteroid administration.