anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects
Last reviewed 01/2018
Anti-inflammatory effects include:
- inhibit capillary dilatation
- limit increases in vascular permeability
- reduced production of complement components
- reduced production of arachidonic acid metabolites by production of an inhibitor of phospholipase A2
- decreased release of monocytes from bone marrow
- increased release of neutrophils from bone marrow
- reduced leukocyte migration
- reduced phagocytic activity
- reduced capillary proliferation
- reduced fibroblast proliferation
The overall effect is to limit all stages of acute and chronic inflammation with reduced ability to heal and increased susceptibility to infection.
Immunosuppressive effects include:
- decreased T-lymphocyte response
- decreased B-lymphocyte response
- decreased activation of macrophages
- limited production of lymphokines e.g. IL-2
The global effect is an impairment of cellular and humoral immunity.