title: GILZ: a new link between the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis and rheumatoid arthritis?
abstract: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is an important regulator of the stress response. In healthy individuals, the HPA axis maintains an equilibrium, ensuring that endogenous glucocorticoid (GC) levels remain within the normal range. However, hypofunction of the HPA axis may have a role in the development of inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ) is an anti-inflammatory protein, the expression of which is upregulated by GC. Although GILZ mediates the anti-inflammatory effects of GC, it may not be associated with the adverse effects that are frequently caused by exogenous GC administration. This has raised interest in GILZ potentiation as a therapeutic approach in diseases such as RA, which may mimic the anti-inflammatory effects of GC without causing harmful side effects. This review will outline the involvement of the HPA axis in RA, as a prelude to highlighting emerging evidence regarding the role of GILZ in inflammation control and RA.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Monash University, Southern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Eades
authors.affiliation: Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Monash University, Southern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Angeline S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Thiagarajah
authors.affiliation: Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Monash University, Southern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Monash University, Southern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Monash University, Southern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Eric F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Morand
authors.affiliation: Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Monash University, Southern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leech
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000473:pathology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D016350:Leucine Zippers / Q000235:genetics*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids