Prasanth Puthanveetil
Roosevelt University, USA
Title: Double faced glucocorticoid and associated glucolipotoxicity on cardiovascular health- A commentary
Biography
Biography: Prasanth Puthanveetil
Abstract
Statement of the Problem: The widely used potent anti-inflammatory agent, glucocorticoids, shows a behavioral paradox. Even though used extensively for treating severe pain and inflammation, in excess could results in metabolic and endocrine complications resulting in Cushing’s syndrome like symptoms. Even though they produce major side effects following chronic treatment, the primary focus has been on direct genomic effects and very less emphasize has been put on their nongenomic effects. Non genomic mechanisms of glucocorticoids are mostly mediated by various stress kinases. When there is an over activation of this non genomic arm of glucocorticoids could result in metabolic complications that potentiate glucolipotoxic events in cardiovascular tissue.
Theoretical Orientation: In this commentary, I would like to shed light on this non genomic effect of glucocorticoids as shown by my own and other’s work.
Findings: Using in vivo and in vitro model systems, we have shown that glucocorticoids in excess under normal physiological conditions could activate this non genomic pathway mediated by stress kinase pathways leading to glucolipotoxicity in the cardiovascular tissue.
Conclusion & Significance: Making use of this knowledge, we tried to interfere or inhibit the mediators in this non genomic signaling axis and was able to normalize the glucolipotoxicity and associated complications in the cardiovascular tissue. This information will really help to provide more awareness to the population who are on long term glucocorticoid treatment and also in long term stress situations.