These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.
Pubmed for Handhelds
PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS
Search MEDLINE/PubMed
Title: Corticosteroid receptor-gene variants: modulators of the stress-response and implications for mental health. Author: Derijk RH, van Leeuwen N, Klok MD, Zitman FG. Journal: Eur J Pharmacol; 2008 May 13; 585(2-3):492-501. PubMed ID: 18423443. Abstract: The stress-response, including autonomic and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity, is essential for maintaining homeostasis during a challenge. Brain mineralocorticoid receptors and glucocorticoid receptors operate in balance to coordinate the stress-response. Genetic variants in both the human mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptor-genes have been functionally characterized. In vitro effects of these genetic variants on transactivation and mRNA stability have been described. In vivo, two mineralocorticoid receptor-gene SNPs (-2 G/C (allele frequency: 50%), MR I180V (11%)) and four glucocorticoid receptor-gene SNPs (ER22/23EK (3%), N363S (4%), BclI (37%), A3669G (15%)) are associated with changes in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity. Importantly, the two mineralocorticoid receptor-gene variants (but none of the glucocorticoid receptor-gene variants) also associate with changes in autonomic output as measured as increased heart beat following a psychosocial stress (TSST). Moreover, several of these mineralocorticorticoid receptor- and glucocorticoid receptor variants have been found associated with stress-related disorders, including depression. These data indicate that dysregulation of mineralocorticoid- and glucocorticoid receptor are causative in the pathogenesis of depression. Moreover, these mineralocorticoid- and glucocorticoid receptor-gene variants constitute part of the genetic make up that determines individual stress-responsiveness inducing vulnerability to disease. Furthermore, mineralocorticoid- and glucocorticoid receptors are drug targets, thereby aiming at the underlying mechanisms of stress-related disorders.[Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]