The Glucocorticoid Receptor: A Revisited Target for Toxins

Toxins

Jeanette I. Webster Marketon¹ 

[1] Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, 201 DHLRI, 473 W. 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA

关键词: glucocorticoid receptor;    toxins;    anthrax lethal toxin;    bacterial toxins;    environmental toxins;   

DOI  :  10.3390/toxins2061357

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation and glucocorticoid responses are critical for survival from a number of bacterial, viral and toxic insults, demonstrated by the fact that removal of the HPA axis or GR blockade enhances mortality rates. Replacement with synthetic glucocorticoids reverses these effects by providing protection against lethal effects. Glucocorticoid resistance/insensitivity is a common problem in the treatment of many diseases. Much research has focused on the molecular mechanism behind this resistance, but an area that has been neglected is the role of infectious agents and toxins. We have recently shown that the anthrax lethal toxin is able to repress glucocorticoid receptor function. Data suggesting that the glucocorticoid receptor may be a target for a variety of toxins is reviewed here. These studies have important implications for glucocorticoid therapy.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2010 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland