Glucocorticoids, antioxidants and staurosporine modulate the adherence between monocytes and malaria infected erythrocytes

Objective and Design: Adherence interactions involving monocytes are important for cell-cell interaction as an integral component of immune function. The adherence of malaria parasitised red cells to monocytes was determined after monocytes were treated with dexamethasone, cortisol, ambroxol, danazol, probucol and staurosporine. Materials. Human peripheral blood monocytes isolated by density gradient centrifugation and adherence to glass cover slips. Methods: The adherence of malaria parasitised red cells to monocytes was determined after the monocytes were incubated for 24 h in the presence of each of the 6 drugs. Results: The two glucocorticoids and staurosporine reduced the adherence of malaria infected erythrocytes to monocytes in a dose dependent manner at concentrations from 10(-10) M and above and ambroxol, danazol, and probucol at 10(-5) M. Staurosporine was the most effective of the drugs studied, completely abolishing adherence at 10(-6) M. Conclusion: The adherence of malaria infected erythrocytes to monocytes is reduced in response to glucocorticoids (dexamethasone and cortisol), anti-oxidants (probucol and ambroxol), danazol and staurosporine.