Dexamethasone is a glucocorticoid receptor agonist and IL receptor modulator with anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, and apoptosis-inducing activities. It inhibits the production of inflammatory miRNA-155 exosomes in macrophages, significantly reduces inflammatory cytokine expression in neutrophils and monocytes, suppresses LPS-induced macrophage inflammation, and induces autophagy. It is commonly used to induce animal models of depression, muscle atrophy, and hypertension, and holds potential in COVID-19 research.

HEK293T cells:> 20 μM, CHO cells:> 20 μM, A549 cells:> 15 μM, Fibroblast:> 15 μM, Macrophages:0.134 μM, B16 F10 cells:> 20 μM, granulocyte-Macrophage cells colony stimulating factor:2.2 nM (EC50), HEK293 cells:> 500 μM, BV-2 cells:2.5 x 10-2 μM, J774 cells:5.2 μM, transcription of the β2-receptor:36 nM (EC50), NF-κB, IκBα, and IκBβ:0.5 nM, HeLa S3 cells:4.1 nM, B-cell:0.8 μM, COS-7 cells:7.2 nM (EC50)

METHODS: Human colorectal cancer cells LoVo and HCT116 were treated with Dexamethasone (10-300 µM) for 72 h. Cell growth inhibition was detected by MTT.
RESULTS: Dexamethasone dose-dependently inhibited the growth of LoVo and HCT116 cells, and the inhibition rates of 300 µM Dexamethasone were 52.6% and 58.8%, respectively. [1]
METHODS: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells RS4;11 were treated with Dexamethasone (100 nM) for 24-36 h. Cell morphology was examined using electron microscopy.
RESULTS: In cells treated with Dexamethasone for 24 h, vesicles were surrounded by double membranes, which are characteristic of autophagosomes, and contained membrane structures and/or part of the endoplasmic reticulum or a large amount of cytoplasm. In addition to the appearance of autophagosomes, the nucleus and cell morphology were initially intact, suggesting that autophagosome formation preceded cell death. Dexamethasone induces autophagy. [2]
METHODS: Activated mouse and human T cells were treated with Dexamethasone (0.001-10 μM) for 48 h, and PD-1 expression was detected by Flow Cytometry.
RESULTS: Dexamethasone enhanced the expression of PD-1 in mouse and human activated T cells. [3]

METHODS: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects, Dexamethasone (1-10 mg/kg) was administered as a single intraperitoneal injection to LPS-induced inflammation in C57Bl/6JBom mice.
RESULTS: 10 mg/kg Dexamethasone significantly reduced neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.Dexamethasone treatment significantly down-regulated the levels of TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12p40 and MIP-1α mRNA. Dexamethasone exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions in acute airway inflammation. [4]
METHODS: To detect anti-tumor activity in vivo, Dexamethasone (1 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected into SCID mice harboring the human myeloma tumor OPM2 five days per week for three weeks.
RESULTS: Dexamethasone treatment significantly inhibited the growth of OPM2 tumors, indicating antitumor activity in vivo. [5]