Dexamethasone (Hexadecadrol) is a glucocorticoid receptor agonist and IL receptor modulator with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties that induces autophagy and inhibits LPS-induced inflammatory responses in macrophages.

METHODS: Human colorectal cancer cells LoVo and HCT116 were treated with Dexamethasone (10-300 µM) for 72 h. Cell growth inhibition was detected by MTT.
RESULTS: Dexamethasone dose-dependently inhibited the growth of LoVo and HCT116 cells, and the inhibition rates of 300 µM Dexamethasone were 52.6% and 58.8%, respectively. [1]
METHODS: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells RS4;11 were treated with Dexamethasone (100 nM) for 24-36 h. Cell morphology was examined using electron microscopy.
RESULTS: In cells treated with Dexamethasone for 24 h, vesicles were surrounded by double membranes, which are characteristic of autophagosomes, and contained membrane structures and/or part of the endoplasmic reticulum or a large amount of cytoplasm. In addition to the appearance of autophagosomes, the nucleus and cell morphology were initially intact, suggesting that autophagosome formation preceded cell death. Dexamethasone induces autophagy. [2]
METHODS: Activated mouse and human T cells were treated with Dexamethasone (0.001-10 μM) for 48 h, and PD-1 expression was detected by Flow Cytometry.
RESULTS: Dexamethasone enhanced the expression of PD-1 in mouse and human activated T cells. [3]

METHODS: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects, Dexamethasone (1-10 mg/kg) was administered as a single intraperitoneal injection to LPS-induced inflammation in C57Bl/6JBom mice.
RESULTS: 10 mg/kg Dexamethasone significantly reduced neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.Dexamethasone treatment significantly down-regulated the levels of TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12p40 and MIP-1α mRNA. Dexamethasone exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions in acute airway inflammation. [4]
METHODS: To detect anti-tumor activity in vivo, Dexamethasone (1 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected into SCID mice harboring the human myeloma tumor OPM2 five days per week for three weeks.
RESULTS: Dexamethasone treatment significantly inhibited the growth of OPM2 tumors, indicating antitumor activity in vivo. [5]

NAC was administered at three different doses (10, 100 and 500 mg/kg body weight). At the highest concentration, the acidic pH of the NAC solution was adjusted by adding NaOH. Dexamethasone was administered as a single injection of 1 or 10 mg/kg. Both drugs were dissolved in saline and 400 μl were injected intraperitoneally, either 1 h before or 1 h after LPS exposure. In one experiment, NAC (100 and 500 mg/kg) was injected successively every 4·5 h, starting 1 h before challenge (five injections in total). A control group of LPS-exposed animals were injected intraperitoneally with solvent alone (saline). Intratracheal administration was performed by instillation of 100 μl NAC (50, 100 or 500 mg/kg) or dexamethasone (10 mg/kg) into the lungs of mice anaesthetized with 15 mg/kg Rapinovet (i.v.) [4].