# Corticosteroid Usage in Modeling Gulf War Illness in Pre-Clinical Models: A Systematic Review

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how corticosteroids may worsen Gulf War Illness symptoms in preclinical models by increasing inflammation and stress.

## Contribution

The study systematically evaluates corticosteroid effects in Gulf War Illness models, highlighting exacerbation of neuroinflammation.

## Key findings

- Corticosteroids worsen neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in Gulf War Illness models.
- Exposure to corticosteroids increases pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α, IL-6, and CCL2.
- Corticosteroids may induce epigenetic changes when combined with Gulf War neurotoxicants.

## Abstract

Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a neuroinflammation- and immune-dysfunction-related chronic disease. Corticosteroids, a class of steroid hormones with potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties, have been studied for their role in GWI pathophysiology. Eight corticosteroid effect studies were evaluated in this systematic review. Preclinical models showed exacerbation of neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and epigenetic changes with exposure to CORT in addition to Gulf War neurotoxicants, which induced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression (Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2)). Such findings suggest that corticosteroids can exacerbate symptoms of GWI and need further clinical research to clarify their role in neuroinflammatory processes.