The in vitro effects of dexamethasone (Dx) and low and high-dose 6-methylprednisolone (MP) on the expression of adhesion molecules ICAM-1,VCAM-1 and class II antigen HLA-DR on human brain endothelial cells (HBECs) was studied. HBECs were obtained from the surgical specimen of a multiple sclerosis patient undergoing brain surgery for vascular aneurysm. HBECs obtained from apparently normal brain capillaries of surgical specimens of two patients undergoing brain surgery for a meningioma and a low-grade glioma, respectively, were used as controls. The effect of steroids was studied both in the basal condition and after stimulation with proinflammatory cytokines (gamma-IFN and TNF-alpha). In order to detect possible endothelium local tissue specific differences, the experiment was repeated using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Only high-dose MP was able to down-regulate TNF-alpha-induced VCAM-1 expression on endothelial cells.