Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 16, Issue 32, 2010

The rationale for promoting a multidisciplinary update on glucocorticoids can be identified from one side in the growing evidence of the role of inflammation in the pathogenic mechanism of many diseases, and from the other in the physiologic control upon the regulators of tissue functions that, in addition to their anti-inflammatory action, these hormones exert. When we think of inflammation our mind goes back to the five Read More

Glucocorticoids (GCs) constitute the most important and widely prescribed class of anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs. Since their first clinical use more than half a century ago, they have been employed for therapeutic treatment in a variety of diseases such as atopic disorders, autoimmune diseases and cancer. Their efficacy is related to their capability to reduce the expression and activity of many pro-inflamm Read More

Inhaled glucocorticoids, also know as corticosteroids (ICS), revolutionized the treatment of asthma by suppressing airways inflammation and ICS therapy now forms the basis of treatment of asthma of all severities. More recently and usually in combination with a long-acting β-agonist (LABA), ICS use has been established in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In asthma, ICS improves asthma contro Read More

Glucocorticoids (GC) are drugs commonly used, by approximately 1% of the total adult population as anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive therapies for asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, dermatological, ophthalmic, neurological, and rheumatic autoimmune diseases. Supporting evidence exists of GC use in both immune mediated and non-immune mediated heart disease. The molecular mechanisms by which GC Read More

Glucocorticoid Receptors (GRs) have been identified in all bone cells. The molecular structure of human GR is organized into 3 major functional domains: the N-terminal immunogenic domain, the central DNA-binding domain and the C-terminal ligand-binding domain. Human GR is a product of a gene composed of 10 exons, located in the chromosome 5q31-32. An alternative splicing in exon 9 gives rise to 2 mRNAs encoding Read More

Glucocorticoids play an essential role in embryonic development and tissue homeostasis and possess important antiinflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. Due to their very wide spectrum of activity, glucocorticoids are one of the most commonly used drugs-used in the treatment of asthma, arthritis, autoimmune diseases and shock/SIRS. Glucocorticoids are a main component of treatment regimens in h Read More

The story of cytokines in pregnancy began about 30 years ago, approximately in concomitance with the understanding that cytokines are autocrine-paracrine regulators of physiological processes. Pro-inflammatory cytokines are predominant in the early and late events of gestation, e.g. pregnancy establishment and parturition, both of which have been described as inflammatory-like events. Proinflammatory cytokin Read More

For many years glucocorticoids have been used world-wide in pregnant women for treatment of a variety of medical disorders, from bronchial asthma to systemic lupus erythematosous, to renal transplant. More recently their administration has been successfully addressed to the prevention of congenital fetal diseases. In some of these, such as for instance the 21-hydroxylase deficiency leading to congenital adren Read More