Cortisol Exerts Bi-Phasic Regulation of Inflammation in Humans
Mark P. Yeager;Patricia A. Pioli;Paul M. Guyre
Abstract
Natural and synthetic glucocorticoids (GCs) have been used for decades to suppress inflammation. In this paper, we re-examine the role of the endogenous GC, cortisol, as a primary homeostatic regulator of the human inflammatory response to injury. Our data show that cortisol regulation of innate immunity can be both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory. Using a human model of in vivo cortisol depletion, we first show that baseline (diurnal) cortisol concentrations do not exert an anti-inflamma
This paper has been withdrawn.