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Query: UMLS:C0338671 (Steroids)
 9,479 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) has been shown by several investigators to be a stimulator of adrenal glucocorticoid production in vivo. However, little evidence exists for direct actions of IL-1 beta on the adrenal gland. We sought to elucidate the direct effects, if any, of IL-1 beta on human fetal adrenal steroidogenesis in the presence and absence of ACTH in both cell and organ cultures. We studied the effects of several doses of recombinant human IL-1 beta (0.05, 0.5, and 5 U/ml), in the presence and absence of two doses of ACTH (0.1 and 1 microgram/ml). With all doses of IL-1 beta, we were unable to demonstrate alterations in basal adrenal steroidogenesis as measured by dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and cortisol production. Whereas both doses of ACTH induced significant increases in steroid production over control values (P less than 0.05), there was no additional effect on steroidogenesis when IL-1 beta was added to cultures containing ACTH. We conclude that although IL-1 beta may act in conjunction with other products of the immune system to modulate adrenal cortisol production, IL-1 beta alone does not directly influence human fetal adrenal steroidogenesis. Rather, it is likely that this cytokine acts via stimulation of pituitary ACTH production.
Steroids 1991 Feb
PMID:Investigation of the effect of interleukin-1 beta on steroidogenesis in the human fetal adrenal gland. 185 May 63

The body's response to infection/inflammation is initiated by the elaboration of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 1-beta (IL-1-beta), IL-6, and IL-8. Cytokines, in turn, stimulate the pituitary-adrenal axis, and it has been suggested that the corticosteroids elaborated serve as negative feedback signals to diminish inflammatory events. To test this hypothesis, we administered hydrocortisone shortly before endotoxin administration to normal volunteers. Steroids greatly reduced the clinical response to endotoxin and attenuated the appearance of tumor necrosis factor, IL-6, and IL-8 in the circulation. In contrast, IL-1-receptor antagonist, a competitive antagonist of the IL-1 receptor, was unaffected by steroid administration. These data suggest that IL-1-receptor antagonist may act in synergism with corticosteroids to reduce inflammation. Elevation of concentrations of these two factors, corticosteroids and IL-1-receptor antagonist, in plasma appears to be the mechanism used by the body to overcome the effects of inflammatory cytokines.
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PMID:Elaboration of interleukin 1-receptor antagonist is not attenuated by glucocorticoids after endotoxemia. 843 Nov 15

Anabolic androgenic steroids (AS) have recently been placed on the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) list of controlled substances, because of the adverse effects seen in athletes taking accelerated dosages in attempts to enhance performance. Reported deleterious effects on abusers include sterility, gynecomastia in males, acne, balding, psychological changes, and increased risks of heart disease and liver neoplasia. Considering the roles of the immune and neuroendocrine systems and their interactions in many of these pathologies, it is important to determine the effects of these derivitized androgens on this connection. Little is known in this respect. We therefore determined the effects of anabolic steroids on certain immune responses and their effects on the extrapituitary production of corticotropin by lymphocytes. We present evidence that (1) both 17-beta and 17-alpha esterified AS, nandrolone decanoate and oxymethenelone, respectively, significantly inhibited production of antibody to sheep red blood cells in a murine abuse model; (2) the control androgens testosterone and dehydroepian-drosterone (DHEA) or sesame seed oil vehicle had no significant effects on antibody production; (3) nandrolone decanoate and oxymethenelone directly induced the production of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha from human peripheral blood lymphocytes but had no effect on IL-2 or IL-10 production; (4) control androgens had no direct cytokine inducing effect; (5) nandrolone decanoate significantly inhibited IFN production in human WISH and murine L-929 cells; and (6) nandrolone decanoate significantly inhibited the production of corticotropin in human peripheral blood lymphocytes following viral infection. These data indicate that high doses of anabolic steroids can have significant effects on immune responses and extrapituitary production of corticotropin. Furthermore, the mouse model should provide an effective means by which to study other deleterious effects of anabolic steroid abuse in humans.
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PMID:Modulation of immune responses by anabolic androgenic steroids. 878 15