ABSTRACT
Title
Role of Glucocorticoid-Induced Leucine Zipper (GILZ) in the anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids
Authors
S. Bruscoli, O. Bereshchenko, M. Di Sante, A. Venanzi and C. Riccardi
Perugia University Medical School. Dept. of Clinical & experimental Medicine; Section of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Chemotherapy, 06122 Perugia, Italy
Perugia University Medical School. Dept. of Clinical & experimental Medicine; Section of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Chemotherapy, 06122 Perugia, Italy
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GC) hormones have been widely used to treat many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases as well certain neoplastic diseases, including haematological malignancies.Physiological production of GC plays a role in many aspects of immune system function and anti-inflammatory activity of GC has been described as one of the mechanisms underlying their pharmacological and physiological effects. Their therapeutic activity is due to regulatory effects on cell growth and differentiation on a number of tissues, including the immune/inflammatory system.
To characterize the molecular mechanisms of GC action, we have identified a number of GC-induced genes including GILZ (Glucocorticoid-Induced Leucine Zipper), a protein rapidly induced by GC treatment. GILZ mediates most of GC effects including regulation of NF-kB and MAPK pathway that is part of the GC-mediated anti-inflammatory activity. Moreover, GILZ regulates T cell survival, activation and differentiation, cytokines production, including pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory process developments, and important mediator of the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects of GC. Our resultsindicate that GILZ is an important player of GC-induced effects,mediate the anti-inflammatory/immunosuppressive activity of GC and regulate cell differentiation.
To characterize the molecular mechanisms of GC action, we have identified a number of GC-induced genes including GILZ (Glucocorticoid-Induced Leucine Zipper), a protein rapidly induced by GC treatment. GILZ mediates most of GC effects including regulation of NF-kB and MAPK pathway that is part of the GC-mediated anti-inflammatory activity. Moreover, GILZ regulates T cell survival, activation and differentiation, cytokines production, including pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory process developments, and important mediator of the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects of GC. Our resultsindicate that GILZ is an important player of GC-induced effects,mediate the anti-inflammatory/immunosuppressive activity of GC and regulate cell differentiation.