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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Lipidomics and Transcriptomics in Neurological Diseases
Published on: March 18, 2022
[New developments in glucocorticoid therapy: selective glucocorticoid receptor agonists, nitrosteroids and liposomal
A M Huisman1, J W G Jacobs, F Buttgereit
1Sint Franciscus Gasthuis, afd. Reumatologie, Kleiweg 500, 3045 PM Rotterdam. m.huisman@sfg.nl
Abstract:
Two mechanisms of the genomic action ofglucocorticoids (GCs) can be distinguished: transrepression, yielding mainly an anti-inflammatory effect, and transactivation, resulting mainly in metabolic-endocrine side effects. Selective glucocorticoid receptor agonists (SEGRAs) cause selective transrepression, yielding the same anti-inflammatory effect as GCs, but with fewer side effects. NO is bound to several drugs to increase their effect; in nitrosteroids, NO is coupled to GC, resulting in a synergistic anti-inflammatory effect. Drug targeting can be achieved with GCs by incorporation of GC into polyethyleneglycol(PEG)-liposomes, resulting in very high concentrations ofGCs at the site of inflammation. Well-designed studies are needed to determine the place of SEGRAs, nitrosteroids and liposomal GCs in clinical practice.
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