Cortisol Effects: Molecular Insights and Clinical Manifestations

Description

This lecture delves into the biological effects of cortisol, including its impact on bone formation, muscle mass, connective tissue, and inflammatory responses. It explores the symptoms of Cushing's syndrome, such as adipose tissue redistribution, muscle weakness, and skin changes. The physiological effects of cortisol on carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism are discussed, along with the symptoms of Cushing's syndrome related to these processes. The lecture also covers the role of stress in immune suppression and the cascade of events triggered by stressors. Furthermore, it examines the regulation of cortisol availability by corticosteroid-binding globulin and the functions of aldosterone in maintaining electrolyte balance. Lastly, the lecture addresses the clinical manifestations of hypoadrenocorticism, including lethargy, nausea, and electrolyte imbalances.

Official source

https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/0_g471rnnc

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Endocrine disease

Endocrine diseases are disorders of the endocrine system. The branch of medicine associated with endocrine disorders is known as endocrinology. Broadly speaking, endocrine disorders may be subdivided into three groups: Endocrine gland hypofunction/hyposecretion (leading to hormone deficiency) Endocrine gland hyperfunction/hypersecretion (leading to hormone excess) Tumours (benign or malignant) of endocrine glands Endocrine disorders are often quite complex, involving a mixed picture of hyposecretion and hypersecretion because of the feedback mechanisms involved in the endocrine system.

Carbohydrate metabolism

Carbohydrate metabolism is the whole of the biochemical processes responsible for the metabolic formation, breakdown, and interconversion of carbohydrates in living organisms. Carbohydrates are central to many essential metabolic pathways. Plants synthesize carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water through photosynthesis, allowing them to store energy absorbed from sunlight internally. When animals and fungi consume plants, they use cellular respiration to break down these stored carbohydrates to make energy available to cells.

Adaptive immune system

The adaptive immune system, also known as the acquired immune system, or specific immune system is a subsystem of the immune system that is composed of specialized, systemic cells and processes that eliminate pathogens or prevent their growth. The acquired immune system is one of the two main immunity strategies found in vertebrates (the other being the innate immune system). Like the innate system, the adaptive immune system includes both humoral immunity components and cell-mediated immunity components and destroys invading pathogens.

Immune system

The immune system is a network of biological processes that protects an organism from diseases. It detects and responds to a wide variety of pathogens, from viruses to parasitic worms, as well as cancer cells and objects such as wood splinters, distinguishing them from the organism's own healthy tissue. Many species have two major subsystems of the immune system. The innate immune system provides a preconfigured response to broad groups of situations and stimuli.

Innate immune system

The innate, or nonspecific, immune system is one of the two main immunity strategies (the other being the adaptive immune system) in vertebrates. The innate immune system is an alternate defense strategy and is the dominant immune system response found in plants, fungi, insects, and primitive multicellular organisms (see Beyond vertebrates).