Molecular mechanisms of glucocorticoids action: from basic research to clinical implications

LIBERMAN, AC; CASTRO, CN; ANTUNICA NOGUEROL, M; BARCALA TABARROZZI, AE; DRUKER, J; PERONE, MJ; ARZT, E

Current Immunology Reviews

Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.

Año: 2010 vol. 6 p. 371 - 380

1573-3955

Glucocorticoid (GCs) hormones (have pleiotropic activities in the body playing important roles in metabolismand modulating/regulating the stress and immune responses. Upon stimuli that trigger immune or inflammatory responsesthere is a concomitant activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis ultimately manifested by an increase in thesynthesis and release of GCs to the systemic circulation. GCs play a pivotal role in the interface between theneuroendocrine and immune systems by modulating the final outcome of the immune response. The successful resolutionof an immune response depends on the fine tune interplay between GCs and cytokines. The interaction betweenintracellular signals elicited by cytokines and the activated glucocorticoid receptor (GR) results in the induction orrepression of gene transcription coordinating an effective immune response, and then its resolution avoiding excessivedeleterious reactions. Herein, we describe recent knowledge regarding basic research in the complex interaction betweenGCs and components of the immune system at cellular and molecular levels, as well as their clinical implications forhealth and disease. The benefits of therapeutic GCs controlling immune disorders as well as their misconduct are alsodiscussed in terms of considering the benefits and adverse effects to control disease and inflammation.