Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Cortisol is an essential steroid hormone released from the adrenal gland. Plasma cortisol levels follow a circadian rhythm under the control of the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal axis, reaching peak levels in the morning. Cortisol has long been known to exert immunosuppressive effects and accordingly, glucocorticoids are central in treating inflammatory disease. Cortisol’s propensity to downregulate certain pro-inflammatory cytokines and upregulate o...