Skip to main content
Log in

Adrenal function

Inflammation-induced adrenal dysfunction

  • News & Views
  • Published:

From Nature Reviews Endocrinology

View current issue Sign up to alerts

Acute inflammation triggers activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, but whether it could also impede the adrenocortical response to adrenocorticotropic hormone remains controversial. A new study using preclinical models of acute inflammation demonstrates dysregulation of energy metabolism in adrenocortical cells, resulting in oxidative stress that induces disruption of steroidogenesis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  1. Téblick, A., Peeters, B., Langouche, L. & Van den Berghe, G. Adrenal function and dysfunction in critically ill patients. Nat. Rev. Endocrinol. 15, 417–427 (2019).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Bancos, I., Hahner, S., Tomlinson, J. & Arlt, W. Diagnosis and management of adrenal insufficiency. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 3, 216–226 (2015).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Annane, D. et al. A 3-level prognostic classification in septic shock based on cortisol levels and cortisol response to corticotropin. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 283, 1038–1045 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Mateska, I. et al. Succinate mediates inflammation-induced adrenocortical dysfunction. eLife 12, e83064 (2023).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Kanczkowski, W. et al. Characterization of the LPS-induced inflammation of the adrenal gland in mice. Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 371, 228–235 (2013).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Kanczkowski, W. et al. Hypothalamo-pituitary and immune-dependent adrenal regulation during systemic inflammation. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 110, 14801–14806 (2013).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Guzy, R. D., Sharma, B., Bell, E., Chandel, N. S. & Schumacker, P. T. Loss of the SdhB, but not the SdhA, subunit of complex II triggers reactive oxygen species-dependent hypoxia-inducible factor activation and tumorigenesis. Mol. Cell. Biol. 28, 718–731 (2008).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Prasad, R., Kowalczyk, J. C., Meimaridou, E., Storr, H. L. & Metherell, L. A. Oxidative stress and adrenocortical insufficiency. J. Endocrinol. 221, R63–R73 (2014).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Meimaridou, E. et al. NNT is a key regulator of adrenal redox homeostasis and steroidogenesis in male mice. J. Endocrinol. 236, 13–28 (2018).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Lussey-Lepoutre, C., Buffet, A., Gimenez-Roqueplo, A. P. & Favier, J. Mitochondrial deficiencies in the predisposition to paraganglioma. Metabolites 7, 17 (2017).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David T. Breault.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chortis, V., Breault, D.T. Inflammation-induced adrenal dysfunction. Nat Rev Endocrinol 19, 622–623 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-023-00896-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-023-00896-3

  • Springer Nature Limited

Navigation