Search PubMed⌕ Search
Home/Archive/PubMed

PubMed · 10903815

Glucocorticoids and immune function.

G A Rook
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

The prevailing notion has been that cytokines such as interleukin-1 released from sites of inflammation cross the blood-brain barrier and drive the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis so that cortisol is released into the circulation to exert indiscriminate systemic anti-inflammatory effects. It is now clear that feedback from the HPA axis is subject to more subtle and localized regulation. The signal that activates cortisol release travels to the hypothalamus via vagal sensory afferents (so the brain 'knows' where the inflammation is), and the effects of the released cortisol are regulated within individual tissues via numerous mechanisms, including changes in the affinity of the cortisol receptors, and changes in the equilibrium point of the cortisol/cortisone shuttle (11 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases 1 and 2). This equilibrium is locally regulated by cytokines. These mechanisms are central to the regulation of the balance of Th1 to Th2 cytokines within sites of inflammation, and to the appropriate or inappropriate termination of the inflammatory response in infections or autoimmunity.

Explore related subjects

CortisoneGlucocorticoidsHumansHydrocortisoneHypothalamo-Hypophyseal SystemImmune SystemSignal TransductionStress, PhysiologicalT-LymphocytesJournal ArticleReview

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

G A Rook. 1999. Glucocorticoids and immune function.. https://doi.org/10.1053/beem.1999.0044

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

PubMed2005

21-deoxycortisone (17alpha-hydroxy-4-pregnene-3,11,20-trione).

The title compound, C21H28O4, a synthetic glucocorticoid, crystallizes with a single molecule in the asymmetric unit. Ring A is almost in a half-chair conformation, rings B and C are almost in chair conformations, and ring D is between a twist and a 13beta-envelope conformation. The A/B ring junction is quasi-trans, whereas the B/C and C/D ring junctions both approach trans characteristics. The molecule as a whole is slightly convex towards the beta side, with an angle of 9.60 (2) degrees between the C10-C19 and C13-C18 vectors. Molecular-packing and hydrogen-bonding (both intra- and intermolecular) interactions play a major role in the structural association of the compound.

Cortisone↗
PubMed2005

Assessing analytical specificity in quantitative analysis using tandem mass spectrometry.

OBJECTIVES: The necessity of confirmation of compound identity in quantitative analysis is well recognized for methods utilizing single mass spectrometry detection but is not commonly addressed for applications utilizing multiple-stage mass spectrometry (MSn). For MSn detection, no commonly accepted rules for assessment of analytical specificity in quantitative analyses have been established to date. METHODS: To assure compound identity, we evaluated approaches based on monitoring multiple mass transitions of a target compound followed by comparison of the branching ratios of the mass transitions. RESULTS: Monitoring multiple mass transitions along with evaluation of the ratio of their relative intensities allows the analyst to distinguish the target analyte from interferences in quantitative analysis. The strategy and the acceptance criteria are compound and method specific and should be established during the method development and validation. CONCLUSIONS: The certainty of analyte identity is very important in quantitative analysis using MSn detection; methods to verify analyte identity should be used in all critical applications.

Cortisone↗