Towards novel treatments for adrenal diseases: Cell- and gene therapy-based approaches

Abstract

Adrenal insufficiency, the inability to produce adequate levels of corticosteroids, is a multi-causal disease that requires lifelong daily hormone replacement. Nevertheless, this cannot replace the physiological demand for steroids which are secreted following a circadian rhythm and vary in periods of stress; the consequences of under- or over-replacement include adrenal crisis and metabolic disturbances, respectively. Although clinical research has focused on enhancing the effectiveness/reducing side effects of current treatment modalities, only small improvements are deemed possible; thus, alternative solutions are urgently needed. Gene and cell therapy strategies have opened new possibilities for the cure of many diseases in a way that has never been possible before and could offer a viable option for the cure of adrenal diseases. The current state of cell- and gene-based approaches to restore adrenocortical function is discussed in this review.

Keywords: Adrenal cortex; Adrenal stem cells; Cell-based therapy; Gene therapy; Self-renewal.