Inhibition by dexamethasone of interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6 expression in alveolar macrophages from cows

The suppression by the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone of the expression of interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6 was examined in alveolar macrophages from cows. The expression of interleukin-1 beta mRNA was inhibited by treatment with dexamethasone for 16 hours in a dose-dependent fashion. The values of the concentration causing 50 per cent inhibition were in the range of 10(-9) to 10(-8) M. Dexamethasone similarly inhibited the expression of interleukin-6 mRNA by 50 per cent at a concentration of approximately 10(-8) M. In the concentration range from 10(-12) to 10(-4) M, dexamethasone had no effect on the expression of beta-actin. These results suggested that glucocorticoids may be involved in the regulation of the expression of interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6 by the alveolar macrophages of cows.