Man-made versions of cortisol hormone or naturally produced in the adrenal cortex of the kidneys through being synthesised from cholesterol. Steroids have anti-inflammatory properties involved in responses to stress. They work by decreasing inflammation and reducing the activity of the immune system. To understand this, it is necessary to realise that Inflammation is a process in which the body’s white blood cells and chemicals can protect against infection and foreign substances such as bacteria and viruses. In certain diseases, however, the body’s (immune) defense system fails to function properly. This might result in inflammation affecting the body’s tissues, resulting in damage.
See Adrenal cortex, Adrenal glands, Cholesterol, Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), Cortisol, Hormones, Steroid hormones