title: Corticosteroids: Mechanisms of Action in Health and Disease.
abstract: Glucocorticoids are primary stress hormones that regulate a variety of physiologic processes and are essential for life. The actions of glucocorticoids are predominantly mediated through the classic glucocorticoid receptor (GR). GRs are expressed throughout the body, but there is considerable heterogeneity in glucocorticoid sensitivity and biologic responses across tissues. The conventional belief that glucocorticoids act through a single GR protein has changed dramatically with the discovery of a diverse collection of receptor isoforms. This article provides an overview of the molecular mechanisms that regulate glucocorticoid actions, highlights the dynamic nature of hormone signaling, and discusses the molecular properties of the GR isoforms.
authors.affiliation: Signal Transduction Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangular Park, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, NC 27709, USA.
authors.forename: Sivapriya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramamoorthy
authors.affiliation: Signal Transduction Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangular Park, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, NC 27709, USA. Electronic address: cidlows1@niehs.nih.gov.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cidlowski
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid
keywords: Glucocorticoid; Glucocorticoid receptor; Glucocorticoid signaling; Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; Isoforms; Phosphorylation; Polymorphism