Endocrine Abstracts

Chronic exposure to elevated circulating glucocorticoids can lead to metabolic changes, which resemble those observed in Metabolic Syndrome. Features of the Metabolic Syndrome can be reversed by lowering systemic glucocorticoid levels or by treatment with a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist. At the intracellular level, exposure to glucocorticoids is regulated by two distinct 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases, 11beta-HSD type 1 and type 2. 11beta-HSD1 predominantly acts as ...