The hypothalamic pituitary axis is among the first physiology response systems to become activated in response to environmental stress. This neuroendocrine based system is widely recognized to provide adaptive physiological responses which allows humans to respond to and cope with changes in environment. Central to the primary mechanisms which provide this coordinated physiological response is the glucocorticoid receptor signal transduction pathway.
Glucocorticoids are the adrenal born hormones which activate the glucocorticoid receptor.
These steroids are essential for life and play a critical role in homeostatic control of glucose, protein and lipid metabolism, bone as well as the immune and central nervous system. Considerable antiodotal evidence that indicates repsonses to environment and stress in general vary widely among the human population. Furthermore patients differ widely in response to therapeutic glucocorticoids. The human glucocorticoid receptor gene was isolated, cloned and sequenced a number of years ago. This tissue specific expression could account for some but not all of the polymorphic response to environmental stress and therapeutic steroid intervention.