One of the human body’s initial responses to stress is the adrenal response, involving the release of mediators that include adrenaline and glucocorticoids (GC). GC are involved in controlling the inflammatory and immune response mechanisms. Of...
Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s Disease (CD) are chronic relapsing inflammatory diseases that are caused by genetic, environmental, and immune factors. Treatment strategies are currently based on symptomatic control by immunosuppression. Th...
Adrenal glands are the major source of glucocorticoids, but recent studies indicate tissue-specific production of cortisol, including that in the oral mucosa. Both endogenous and exogenous glucocorticoids regulate the production of several proteins,...
Glucocorticoids (GCs), such as dexamethasone (DEX), are commonly administered to glioblastoma (GBM) patients to control cerebral edema; however, their effects on immune checkpoint regulation in tumor cells remain insufficiently characterized. This st...
Dendritic cells (DCs) are key players in the control of tolerance and immunity. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are known to regulate DC function by promoting their tolerogenic differentiation through the induction of inhibitory ligands, cytokines, and enzymes...
Macrophages are important effectors of inflammation resolution that contribute to the elimination of pathogens and apoptotic cells and restoration of homeostasis. Pre-clinical studies have evidenced the anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving actions of...
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are commonly used to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, but their clinical effects and long-term use can lead to serious side effects. New drugs that can replace GCs are needed. Glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GI...
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are essential in regulating functions and homeostasis in many biological systems and are extensively used to treat a variety of conditions associated with immune/inflammatory processes. GCs are among the most powerful drugs for...
Glucocorticoids are the most powerful anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive pharmacological drugs available, despite their adverse effects. Glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ) is a glucocorticoid-induced gene that shares several anti-infla...
Pneumonia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. While inflammation is a host protective response that ensures bacterial clearance, a finely regulated response is necessary to prevent bystander tissue damage. Glucocorticoid (GC)-induced leuci...
Statins represent the most prescribed class of drugs for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Effects that go beyond lipid-lowering actions have been suggested to contribute to their beneficial pharmacological properties. Whether and how statins ac...
The variability in mortality in sepsis could be a consequence of genetic variability. The glucocorticoid system and the intermediate TSC22D3 gene product—glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper—are clinically relevant in sepsis, which is wh...
Epigenetics is one of the mechanisms by which environmental factors can alter brain function and may contribute to central nervous system disorders. Alterations of DNA methylation and miRNA expression can induce long-lasting changes in neurobiologica...
Oral mucositis (OM) is characterized by the presence of severe ulcers in the oral region that affects patients treated with chemotherapy. It occurs in almost all patients who receive radiotherapy of the head and neck, as well as patients who undergo...
Sex differences have been identified in various biological processes, including hypertension. The mineralocorticoid signaling pathway is an important contributor to early arterial hypertension, however its sex-specific expression has been scarcely st...
Developmental dyslexia (DD) is a learning disorder. Although risk genes have been identified, environmental factors, and particularly stress arising from constant difficulties, have been associated with the occurrence of DD by affecting brain plastic...
Glucocorticoids are essential for fetal organ maturation and form the basis of antenatal corticosteroid therapy that has significantly reduced preterm-related morbidity such as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). However, neonatal morbidity remains...