Jennifer Stewart
A particular receptor protein, the glucocorticoid receptor, mediates glucocorticoid activity in cells. Glucocorticoid receptor belongs to the ligand-inducible transcription factor superfamily, which regulates a wide range of physiological functions including metabolism, development, and reproduction. Unliganded glucocorticoid receptor is mostly found in the cytoplasm, but after hormone binding, it translocates to the nucleus quickly and effectively. The focus of this review will be on the glucocorticoid receptor’s intracellular signalling pathway, as well as the mechanisms that control its intracellular trafficking, hormone binding, and transcriptional regulation. Many receptor-interacting proteins are involved in various levels of the glucocorticoid receptor signal transduction, each with its own mechanism for regulating receptor function and thus giving potential therapeutic targets for manipulating glucocorticoid cellular responses.