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Glucocorticoids and the immune response

2005; Elsevier BV; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0921-0709(05)80055-0

2212-1188

G. Jan Wiegers, Ilona E. M. Stec, Philipp Sterzer, Johannes M. H. M. Reul,

Immune Response and Inflammation

Despite the importance of glucocorticoids (GCs) to modern medicine, the physiological role of endogenous GCs in immunomodulation is poorly understood. Evidence collected over the past decade convincingly shows that GCs at levels that can be reached physiologically affect the immune response in a more differentiated way than previously thought. This chapter discusses evidence suggesting that endogenous GCs not only suppress but also direct and enhance immune functions. Antigen-specific immunity, for example, can be either stimulated or inhibited by GCs depending on the dose and duration of GC exposure. At the molecular level, stimulating effects of GCs are reflected by their capacity to increase the expression of various cytokine receptors. Such stimulating actions are often overlooked but might well be equally important as the inhibitory functions during host defence and the maintenance of homeostasis.