Sexually dimorphic actions of glucocorticoids: beyond chromosomes and sex hormones. (16th April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Quinn, Matthew; Ramamoorthy, Sivapriya; Cidlowski, John A.
• Other Names: Cutolo Maurizio guestEditor.; Straub Rainer H. guestEditor.; Masi Alfonse T. guestEditor.; Bijlsma Johannes W.J. guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Volume 1317(2014)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 6
• Publication Date: 2014-04-16
• Subjects: glucocorticoid receptor -- glucocorticoids -- sexual dimorphism -- sex hormone; Medical sciences -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Science -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1111/nyas.12425
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0077-8923

Abstract

Abstract : Sexual dimorphism is a well‐documented phenomenon that is observed at all levels of the animal kingdom. Historically, sex hormones (testosterone and estrogen) have been implicated as key players in a wide array of pathologies displaying sexual dimorphism in their etiology and progression. While these hormones clearly contribute to sexually dimorphic diseases, other factors may be involved in this phenomenon as well. In particular, the stress hormone cortisol exerts differential effects in both males and females. The underlying molecular basis for the sexually dimorphic actions of glucocorticoids is unknown but clearly important to understand, since synthetic glucocorticoids are the most widely prescribed medication for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases and hematological cancers in humans.