Abstract

Discussion
Board

Since this is an interactive e-meeting, I would like to pose a number of what I think are important questions that need to be addressed on the subject. In vivo, several important questions remain: What is the nature of effects of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on extrapulmonary tissues such as bone marrow and the CNS? How do glucocorticoids (GC) inhibit vascular leak? Are there important differences among ICS in terms of their safety ratio? How important are systemic side effects for ICS in kids and adults? On a molecular level, a number of important questions remain: What is the relative importance of transactivation vs transrepression in the antiinflammatory effects of GC? How important are cytokines as GC targets with respect to other targest such as enzymes, peptides, chemical mediators, cellular responses? Is endothelium an important target of glucocorticoids? How important is mRNA destabilization or stabilization as a GC effect, vis-a-vis transcriptional effects? What is the molecular and cellular basis of GC effects on the mineralization and resorption of bone? Are there GC effects which are mechanistically unrelated to changes in gene expression (ie does the GR interact with signal transducing molecules, cell surface receptors, structural proteins, etc and directly modify function)? I hope that those who tune in will have some information, opinions or comments regarding these questions and any others that may come up.

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Presentation Number SA0198
Keywords: