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, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$29.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
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).
Bancos, I., Hahner, S., Tomlinson, J. & Arlt, W. Diagnosis and management of adrenal insufficiency. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 3, 216–226 (2015).
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).
Mateska, I. et al. Succinate mediates inflammation-induced adrenocortical dysfunction. eLife 12, e83064 (2023).
Kanczkowski, W. et al. Characterization of the LPS-induced inflammation of the adrenal gland in mice. Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 371, 228–235 (2013).
Kanczkowski, W. et al. Hypothalamo-pituitary and immune-dependent adrenal regulation during systemic inflammation. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 110, 14801–14806 (2013).
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).
Prasad, R., Kowalczyk, J. C., Meimaridou, E., Storr, H. L. & Metherell, L. A. Oxidative stress and adrenocortical insufficiency. J. Endocrinol. 221, R63–R73 (2014).
Meimaridou, E. et al. NNT is a key regulator of adrenal redox homeostasis and steroidogenesis in male mice. J. Endocrinol. 236, 13–28 (2018).
Lussey-Lepoutre, C., Buffet, A., Gimenez-Roqueplo, A. P. & Favier, J. Mitochondrial deficiencies in the predisposition to paraganglioma. Metabolites 7, 17 (2017).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Rights and permissions
About this article
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
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-023-00896-3