Protein Synthesis in Human Leukocytes and Lymphocytes: 1. Effect of Steroids and Sterols

The in vitro effects of sterols, cholesterol and 3-methyl cholanthrene and steroids, cortisol, prednisolone and testosterone on protein synthesis in separate popultions of human lymphocytes and leukocytes has been investigated. It has been shown that all agents used result in the inhibition of protein synthesis under these conditions. It has also been shown that the inhibitory mechanism of the steroid hormones requires the presence of plasma, presumably as a protein binding factor in order to achieve its effect. The sterol, cholesterol and 3-methyl cholanthrene, in the absence of plasma, still inhibit amino acid incorporation. However, in the case of cholesterol, the magnitude of inhibition is lower than that observed in the presence of plasma, perhaps indicating a partial plasma dependence. The results presented therefore support the hypothesis that the inhibition of lymphocyte protein synthesis by steroid hormones occurs only when the steroid is bound to a plasma protein. The physiologic role of the plasma protein-cortisol complex and its relation to the condition of lymphopenia in man is discussed.