The anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids (GCs) are useful for the treatment of asthma, arthritis and transplant organ rejection. However, the side effects such as diabetes and GC-induced osteoporosis limit their long-term use. Given the significant therapeutic value of GCs, there has been intense effort to identify dissociated GC receptor agonists that possess the anti-inflammatory properties of classic GC receptor agonists, such as prednisone and dexamethasone, without the undesirable side effects.

Kauh et al. conducted a randomized, double-blind, parallel-design trial of healthy adults demonstrating cutaneous allergen-induced hypersensitivity and examined, in the same individuals, prednisone's acute, dose-dependent effects on inflammation as well as biomarkers of glucose regulation and bone homeostasis. They found that in healthy young adults after single doses as low as 10 mg, prednisone treatment has significant effects on glucose tolerance and bone formation markers within hours of treatment, in parallel with anti-inflammatory effects. Kauh et al. (2012) European Journal of Endocrinology 166 459-467.

Read the full article at DOI: 10.1530/EJE-11-0751