Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Primary Culture of Rat Adrenocortical Cells and Assays of Steroidogenic Functions
Published on: March 12, 2019
Cortisol metabolism, cortisol sensitivity and the pathogenesis of leprosy reactions
Abstract:
The concentration of cortisol in a tissue is regulated by a reversible enzyme 'shuttle' that can deactivate cortisol by converting it to cortisone, or activate cortisone by converting it to cortisol. The activity of this shuttle, and the direction in which it operates, is regulated by numerous factors including cytokines. This results in large swings in the effective cortisol concentration in sites of inflammation at different phases of an inflammatory response. Thus changes in local cortisol concentration can be largely independent of circulating cortisol levels. The relevant shuttle enzymes are present in skin, blood vessels and nervous tissue, and inhibition of the enzymes in skin enhances the local anti-inflammatory effect of cortisol. We therefore suggest that changes in the activity or direction of action of the shuttle in leprosy lesions may predispose to reactions, requiring exogenous steroid supplements to regain control of the inflammation.
Related Concept Videos
Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis
Allergic Drug Reactions
Hormones of the Adrenal Glands
The adrenal cortex, a powerhouse of hormone synthesis, generates over two dozen corticosteroid hormones. The zona glomerulosa produces mineralocorticoids, exemplified by aldosterone, influencing the electrolyte composition of body fluids. The synthesis of glucocorticoids such as cortisol and corticosterone...
Drug Toxicity: Allergic Reactions
Cushing Syndrome I: Introduction
Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology

