Researchers from IRCAN, in collaboration with IHU RespirERA in Nice, have identified a new mechanism of action of glucocorticoids. A discovery that could transform our understanding of these essential treatments.
Essential drugs at the heart of many treatments
Cortisone, dexamethasone, prednisolone… These glucocorticoids are used every day around the world. They play a key role in the treatment of many conditions, including inflammation, allergies, cancers, and also in critical care settings.
Their effectiveness has long been recognized. However, despite their widespread use, their full mechanisms of action had not yet been completely understood.
A discovery that changes everything for patients
Until now, glucocorticoids were known to act in the cell nucleus by influencing gene activity (by turning certain biological instructions on or off).
But the work carried out by Team 4 at IRCAN, led by Dr Patrick Brest, in collaboration with IHU RespirERA under the direction of Professor Paul Hofman, has revealed a second mechanism of action.
This previously hidden mechanism complements existing knowledge and significantly enhances our understanding of how these treatments work.
Why this breakthrough matters
Discovering a new mode of action for such widely used drugs is a major step forward. It provides a more accurate understanding of how these treatments actually work within the body.
In the long term, these findings could:
- improve treatment effectiveness,
- better tailor prescriptions to individual patients,
- and help anticipate certain effects more effectively.
In other words, this discovery paves the way for a more precise and personalized use of glucocorticoids.
Scientific collaboration serving patients
This breakthrough highlights the strength of collaboration between fundamental research and applied research. By contributing to this work, IHU RespirERA helps generate knowledge that can improve patient care, particularly in the field of respiratory health.
It fully reflects the institute’s ambition: to better understand diseases in order to prevent, diagnose, and treat them more effectively.
