Effects of dexamethasone on human natural killer cell cytotoxicity, interferon production, and interleukin-2 receptor expression induced by microbial antigens.

Dexamethasone inhibits the expression of the interleukin-2 receptor, the synthesis of immune interferon, and the development of natural killer cells when added to peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultured with soluble microbial antigens (purified protein derivative and a polysaccharide extract from Candida albicans [MPPS]) or human recombinant interleukin-2.