Endocrine Abstracts

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are steroid hormones, products of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. Synthetic GCs, such as dexamethasone, have been widely used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or asthma, but their long-term use causes severe side effects (osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension, etc). The ligand-bound GC receptor (GR) can activate gene expression via binding to GC response elements (GREs), a mechanism known as transactiva...

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are used to treat inflammatory diseases because they downregulate expression of numerous inflammatory mediators. This is at least partly achieved through functional interference of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) with transcription factors such as NF-κB (transrepression). On the other hand, activation of transcription by GR is responsible for some of the side effects of GCs. Efforts to improve the safety profile of GCs are focused on the identificat...