Background
In humans, glucocorticoids regulate a broad spectrum of physiologic functions essential for life, and they play an important role in the maintenance of basal and stress-related homeostasis.
Approximately 20% of the genes expressed in human leukocytes are regulated positively or negatively by glucocorticoids.
Glucocorticoids are involved in almost every cellular, molecular, and physiologic network of the organism and play a pivotal role in critical biologic processes, such as growth, reproduction, intermediary metabolism, immune and inflammatory reactions, and central nervous system and cardiovascular functions.
Furthermore, glucocorticoids represent one of the most widely used therapeutic compounds, often used in the treatment of inflammatory, autoimmune, and lymphoproliferative disorders.