Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones that play diverse roles in numerous normal and pathological processes. They are actively used to treat a wide variety of diseases, including neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases, cancers, and COVID-19, among others. However, the long-term use of glucocorticoids is associated with numerous side effects. Molecular mechanisms of these negative side effects are not completely understood. Recently, arguments have been made that one such mechanisms may be related to the influence of glucocorticoids on O-glycosylated components of the cell surface and extracellular matrix, in particular on proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans. The potential toxic effects of glucocorticoids on these glycosylated macromolecules are particularly meaningful for brain physiology because proteoglycans/glycosaminoglycans are the main extracellular components of brain tissue. Here, we aim to review the known effects of glucocorticoids on proteoglycan expression and glycosaminoglycan content in different tissues, with a specific focus on the brain.
Keywords: brain; chondroitin sulfate; extracellular matrix; glucocorticoid; glycosaminoglycan; heparan sulfate; proteoglycan; tumor microenvironment.