Cited by 1,815Estrogen and related hormone effectsAdrenal Hormones and DisordersStress Responses and Cortisol

The anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects of glucocorticoids, recent developments and mechanistic insights

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Coutinho, Agnes E., Chapman, Karen E.·2011·Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology

Abstract

Since the discovery of glucocorticoids in the 1940s and the recognition of their anti-inflammatory effects, they have been amongst the most widely used and effective treatments to control inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. However, their clinical efficacy is compromised by the metabolic effects of long-term treatment, which include osteoporosis, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes mellitus. In recent years, a great deal of effort has been invested in identifying compounds that separate the beneficial anti-inflammatory effects from the adverse metabolic effects of glucocorticoids, with limited effect. It is clear that for these efforts to be effective, a greater understanding is required of the mechanisms by which glucocorticoids exert their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive actions. Recent research is shedding new light on some of these mechanisms and has produced some surprising new findings. Some of these recent developments are reviewed here.

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  • Glucocorticoids often precipitate significant hyperglycaemia.

    “Despite their therapeutic value, they carry significant metabolic risks, including osteoporosis, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and hyperglycaemia. 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7”

    From A systematic review of glucocorticoid use in type 1 diabetes: Glycaemic effects and clinical management strategies (2026) · cites this paper as [3]

    The Abstract identifies insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes as adverse metabolic effects of long-term glucocorticoid treatment. The section “11β-HSD1 amplifies glucocorticoid action within cells” also discusses hyperglycemia, but does not establish that glucocorticoid treatment often precipitates significant hyperglycemia. The frequency and severity in the claim are therefore unsupported by this copy. (LLM, conf=0.83)

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  • Glucocorticoids remain indispensable for the management of many autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, but their use is often complicated by metabolic side effects.

    “GCs remain indispensable for the management of many autoimmune and inflammatory conditions; however, their use is often complicated by metabolic side effects.”
  • CCS have broad inhibitory effects on both innate and adaptive immune cells by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokines, T- and to a lesser extent, B-cells production.

    “They have broad inhibitory effects on both innate and adaptive immune cells by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokines, T- and to a lesser extent, B-cells production (64).”

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Authors
Coutinho, A. E., & Chapman, K. E.
Affiliations
The Queen's Medical Research Institute (GB)
Corresponding author
Chapman, Karen E.
Venue
Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2011-03
Volume
335
Issue
1
Pages
2-13
ISSN
0303-7207 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2013980575
Cited by
1,815
References
231
Citations by year
2026: 138 · 2025: 172 · 2024: 183 · 2023: 199 · 2022: 186 · 2021: 190 · 2020: 169 · 2019: 140 · 2018: 114 · 2017: 105 · 2016: 70 · 2015: 52 · 2014: 34 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 21
FWCI
1.96
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust
  • Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Estrogen and related hormone effects
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adrenal Hormones and Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Keywords
glucocorticoids, anti-inflammatory activity, immunosuppression, metabolic side effects, osteoporosis, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune disease
MeSH terms
Animals, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Cell Differentiation, Gene Expression Regulation, Glucocorticoids, Humans, Immune System, Immunosuppressive Agents, Inflammation, Leukocytes, Receptors, Glucocorticoid, Transcription, Genetic, Signal Transduction, 11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1

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