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Abstract

In view of the frequent use of glucocorticoids in the treatment of cats, we studied the effect of dexamethasone on their immunological system. The phagocytic activity and oxidative burst of neutrophils and monocytes were evaluated by cytometric analysis using commercial kits and the subpopulations of lymphocytes were assessed. Neutrophilia and monocytosis reduced phagocytic activity, as shown from the number of phagocytized bacteria, and variations in the intensity of the oxidative burst in activated neutrophils and monocytes were observed. Dexamethasone also caused an increase in the number of B lymphocytes.

Successful Treatment of a Multi-Drug-Resistant Severely Pruritic Hypersensitivity Dermatitis in a Cat

“…Available data suggest that in felines, a different mechanism of this glucocorticoid may exist compared to humans. In one experimental study, administration of immunosuppressive doses of dexamethasone to healthy cats over three days did not result in changes in CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell counts but caused an increase in the number of monocytes and B-cells [ 17 ]. In two studies evaluating the in vitro effects of various immunosuppressive treatments on cytokine production by lymphocytes and lymphocyte proliferation in felines, dexamethasone alone did not suppress CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell proliferation [ 18 ] or production of interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma but suppressed the production of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor [ 19 ].…”