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The emerging role of C/EBPs in glucocorticoid signaling: lessons from the lung

Abraham B Roos1, Magnus Nord

  • 1Respiratory Medicine Unit, Lung Research Laboratory L4:01, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital - Solna, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. abraham.roos@ki.se

The Journal of Endocrinology
|November 3, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Glucocorticoids (GCs) treat inflammation but face resistance in lung diseases like COPD. CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPs) may explain this steroid resistance by influencing GC effects in the lungs.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Molecular Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Glucocorticoids (GCs) are mainstays for inflammatory disease treatment.
  • Steroid resistance is observed in lung disorders like COPD, with unknown mechanisms.
  • Transcription factors interacting with the GC receptor may underlie resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review glucocorticoid (GC) action mechanisms.
  • To explore the function of lung-enriched CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBP).
  • To summarize C/EBP roles in mediating GC effects and potential GC resistance in pulmonary diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of GC mechanisms.
  • Analysis of C/EBP family functions in lung biology.
  • Synthesis of current knowledge on C/EBPs, GCs, and steroid resistance.

Main Results:

  • GCs exert effects via receptor interactions.
  • C/EBP transcription factors are key regulators of lung gene expression.
  • C/EBPs are implicated in various inflammatory lung diseases and may mediate GC effects.

Conclusions:

  • C/EBP transcription factors play significant roles in lung inflammation.
  • Understanding C/EBP involvement is crucial for elucidating GC resistance mechanisms.
  • Targeting C/EBPs could offer new therapeutic strategies for steroid-resistant lung diseases.

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