Endocrine Abstracts

The central obese phenotype characteristic of Cushing's syndrome emphasises the role of glucocorticoids (GC) in regulating adipose tissue mass and distribution. We have shown that GCs stimulate adipocyte differentiation, but equally inhibit adipose stromal cell (ASC) proliferation. These effects are regulated at a pre-receptor level through 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1, but the 'post-receptor' signalling pathways remain unclear. To define novel GC targets in huma...