title: Targets of anti-glucocorticoid therapy for stress-related diseases.
abstract: The stress response during chronic conditions increases vulnerability to diseases through the activation of adaptive systems, in particular, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Dysregulation in HPA activity (central and peripheral) has been reported in chronic diseases, like metabolic syndrome, type-2 diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis-related disease, essential hypertension, dementia, depression, particularly during comorbid conditions. Different targets of anti-glucocorticoid treatment have been proposed, acting at supra-hypothalamic, HPA axis, glucocorticoid receptor and post-receptor levels. The recent promising patents on the therapy against glucocorticoid-mediated damage will be presented and discussed.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, S. Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy. a_martocchia@virgilio.it
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martocchia
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stefanelli
authors.forename: Giulia M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Falaschi
authors.forename: Lavinia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Toussan
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rocchietti March
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raja
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Falaschi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid