Colonic inflammation induces local glucocorticoid activation via 11betaHSD1 and impairs glucocorticoid inactivation via 11betaHSD2. The observed changes indicate a role for local metabolism of glucocorticoids in the control of colonic inflammation.

Colitis induces local glucocorticoid activation from 11-oxo steroids and decreases glucocorticoid inactivation; i.e. inflammation increases local tissue ratio of active and inactive glucocorticoids. The results indicate that the changes in local metabolism of glucocorticoids could contribute to the control of an overshoot of inflammation processes in the colon.

No abstract