To investigate leukocyte lipocortin-1 production in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Eight control and 8 RA subjects received 100 mg hydrocortisone intravenously. Leukocyte lipocortin-1 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Hydrocortisone induced significant increases in lipocortin-1 production by control mononuclear cells (MNC) (P = 0.006 versus baseline) but not by RA MNC (P = 0.44 versus baseline). Peak lipocortin-1 levels in control MNC were significantly higher than those in RA MNC (P = 0.014).
These results indicate that glucocorticoid-induced MNC lipocortin-1 production is impaired in RA.