The effect of glucocorticoid hormones on release of HBsAg from PLC/PRF/5 (Alexander) hepatoma cells.

The glucocorticoid hormones dexamethasone, beta-methasone, and cortisone enhanced HBsAg release from PLC/PRF/5 cells by 40 per cent, 40 per cent and 10 per cent respectively, as compared to untreated controls. In the same experiments dexamethasone and betamethasone depressed the viable cell population by 20 per cent compared to the controls whereas cortisone had no significant effect. Immune electron microscope studies of the HBsAg material revealed no morphological differences compared to the control. Thus the glucocorticoid hormones dexamethasone, betamethasone and cortisone induce quantitative enhancement of HBsAg release without significant qualitative change. It is suggested that quantitative change in HBsAg release relates at least in part to the cell cycle of PLC/PRF/5 cells.