Nilsson S, Gustafsson J A
Karo Bio AB, Novum, Huddinge.
Lakartidningen. 1997 Jun 25;94(26-27):2465-71.
Glucocorticoids have been used as anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and immunosuppressive agents since the beginning of the 1940s, and during recent years the mechanisms by which they exert their anti-inflammatory effects have begun to be better understood. Inhibition of inflammatory response is primarily mediated via the glucocorticoid receptor and the two transcription factors, AP-1 and NF kappa B, which are of crucial importance for the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and other genes involved in the inflammatory process. Unfortunately, long-term treatment with glucocorticoids is associated with a series of adverse effects such as hypertension, bone fragility, diabetes, dermatrophy and personality changes. However, owing to advances in biotechnology and recent clarification of the molecular mechanisms involved, it is now becoming possible to develop new glucocorticoids with a more selective anti-inflammatory effect without serious side-effects.
自20世纪40年代初以来，糖皮质激素就一直被用作抗炎、抗过敏和免疫抑制药物。近年来，人们对其发挥抗炎作用的机制有了更深入的了解。炎症反应的抑制主要是通过糖皮质激素受体以及两种转录因子AP-1和NF-κB介导的，这两种转录因子对于促炎细胞因子和参与炎症过程的其他基因的表达至关重要。不幸的是，长期使用糖皮质激素会带来一系列不良反应，如高血压、骨质脆弱、糖尿病、皮肤萎缩和性格改变。然而，由于生物技术的进步以及最近对相关分子机制的阐明，现在有可能开发出具有更具选择性抗炎作用且无严重副作用的新型糖皮质激素。
