title: Mechanism of glucocorticoid action.
abstract: Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones synthesized by the adrenal cortex that are important in regulating many physiological and developmental processes. Because of anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant effects, they are widely used to treat a variety of disorders. Their action occurs because of binding to the receptor in responsive cell types. The receptor protein consists of specific domains, each required for specific functions. The steroid: receptor complex migrates to the nucleus, binds to specific regions of DNA called glucocorticoid response elements, and either stimulates or inhibits the expression of specific genes. A cell's response depends upon the availability of hormone, transport proteins, affinity and number of intracellular receptors. Several mechanisms that in vivo appear to influence the number of functional receptors within a responsive cell have been defined. These are autoregulation of receptor synthesis, modulation of receptor phosphorylation, and regulation of receptor levels by factors that mediate other signal transduction pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa.
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Gower
mesh_terms: D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid