Divergent effects of DEX on anti-inflammatory gene induction in human CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ cells. Shown is DEX-induced activation of (A) MKP-1 and (B) IL-10 gene expression by purified human CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ cells. MKP-1 and IL-10 mRNA induction by DEX- compared with medium-treated cells were analyzed by real-time PCR. Purified human CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells were collected 1 hour after DEX treatment to analyze MKP-1 induction and 24 hours after DEX treatment to analyze IL-10 induction. (C) Differential induction of MKP-1 protein expression by DEX in CD4⁺ vs CD8⁺ cells. The cells had been treated by DEX or cultured in medium only for 9 hours. A representative Western blot of 3 independent experiments performed is shown.