title: Molecular determinants of glucocorticoid actions in inflammatory joint diseases.
abstract: Since their discovery in 1948, glucocorticoids have been widely used clinically to treat inflammatory disorders like rheumatoid arthritis. However, their usefulness, especially in rheumatoid arthritis therapy, is hampered by severe side effects on bone leading to glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. The molecular and cellular mechanisms mediating the beneficial and adverse effects remain poorly understood. Nevertheless, advanced molecular biological analyses and in vivo approaches using conditional mutant mice have helped to unravel in part the underlying mechanisms of immunosuppression and side effects of glucocorticoid therapy in arthritis, thereby contributing to an improved understanding of these therapeutically important hormones.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Zoology and Endocrinology, University of Ulm, Zentrum für Biomedizinische Forschung, Helmholtzstraße 8/1, D-89081 Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Baschant
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Culemann
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tuckermann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017746:Joint Capsule / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D022423:Myeloid Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid
keywords: Bone destruction; Conditional knockout mice; Glucocorticoid receptor; Inflammation