This is an important finding with high clinical relevance as intra-adrenal activation of the immune system can affect adrenal functionality by interfering with the steroidogenic pathway, damaging adrenal endothelial microvascular cells, and by inducing apoptosis and reducing cell viability.ĭr Francesca Spiga, Honorary Research Fellow in the Bristol Medical School: Translational Health Sciences (THS) and corresponding author, said: "Our study provides valuable insights on the regulation of the adrenal steroidogenic pathway that are important starting points for future studies on adrenal gland physiology. The study also showed a pro-inflammatory effect of synthetic glucocorticoids treatment in the adrenal gland.
Importantly, these changes persist long after discontinuation of the treatment. The research found that the rhythms of glucocorticoid secretions are disrupted following prolonged treatment with synthetic corticosteroid drugs, and that the adrenal steroidogenic pathway is directly affected. In this study, published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, the research team tested the hypothesis that synthetic corticosteroids cause long-term changes in the adrenal gland steroidogenic pathways that are responsible for adrenal suppression. Previous studies have concentrated on studying the long-term effects of corticosteroid treatment on the hypothalamus and pituitary but have not looked at the direct effects that these steroids may have on the adrenal gland. Patients undergoing prolonged corticosteroid treatment can also develop adrenal insufficiency, which in rare occasions can lead to adrenal gland failure.
Synthetic corticosteroid drugs are widely prescribed to treat many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases but taking a high dose over a long period of time can cause adverse side effects.
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