RESUMEN
AIM: To observe the effects of dexamethasone on the expression of toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)and the activation of NF-?B of dendritic cells(DC),and investigate the mechanism of dexamethasone suppressing differentiation,maturation,and function of DC.METHODS: DC generated from C57BL/6 murine bone marrow cells were induced by GM-CSF and IL-4.Dexamethasone was added in the DC's culture system,the cells were analyzed by flow cytometry(FCM) to determine the expression of TLR4 & CD11c,and by electrophoretic mobility shift assay(EMSA) to verify the activation of transcription factor NF-?B of DC.RESULTS: Dexamethasone could suppress the expression of CD11c and the activation of NF-?B with a dose-effect relationship in DC,but it could not suppress the expression of TLR4 of DC.CONCLUSION: The mechanism of dexamethasone involved in inhibition of differentiation,maturation,and function of DC is perhaps related to suppression of NF-?B activation.