Vnitr Lek 2006, 52(10):973-978

Natural antiglucocorticoids

R. Hampl^*, K. Vondra

Endokrinologický ústav, Praha, ředitel doc. MUDr. Vojtěch Hainer, CSc.

Dehydroepiandrosterone, as a sulfate after cholesterol the most abundant circulating steroid displays a number of remarkable actions, especially on immune system, where it counteracts immunosuppressive effects of glucocorticoids. Recently it has been found that in some instances the locally active agents are 7-oxygenated metabolites of this steroid, so far believed to be only degradation products. In the survey so far known effects of dehydroepaindrosterone and its metabolites are summarized on cytokine production, activation of apoptosis, their influence on macrophage migration into affected peripheral tissues, their plausible effect on angiogenesis, effects of inflammatory mediators-metabolites of arachidonic acid, and their role in the mechanism of oxidative stress. Where known, the molecular mechanisms are mentioned, staying behind these events.

Keywords: endogenic antiglucocorticoids; dehydroepiandrosterone; metabolites

Received: August 28, 2006; Published: October 1, 2006  Show citation