Cytokine inhibition after glucocorticoid exposure in healthy men with low versus high basal cortisol levels.

Objective: The balance between glucocorticoid (GC) release and GC sensitivity in target cells is believed to be important to maintain homeostasis in the neuroendocrine control of inflammation. We investigated the impact of in vivo exposure to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and dexamethasone (DEX) on GC sensitivity measured in vitro in healthy individuals with high versus low baseline cortisol levels.

Methods: 136 healthy male volunteers were screened twice and sorted according to their 24-hour urinary free cortisol (UFC) excretion.