The role of glucocorticoid action in the pathophysiology of the Metabolic Syndrome

Nutrition & Metabolism

Table 1 Examples of genes regulated by GR

Gene Names	Function	Regulation	Reference
Glutamine synthetase	Amino acid metabolism	Up	42
TAT	Amino acid catabolism	Up	43, 44
Tryptophan oxygenase	Amino acid catabolism	Up	45
PEPCK (liver)	Gluconeogenesis	Up	46
G6Pase	Gluconeogenesis	Up	47, 48
Angiotensinogen	Precursor of angiotensin I; vasoconstriction, electrolyte balance, etc.	Up	49
Leptin	Energy metabolism	Up	50
VLDLR	Lipoprotein metabolism	Up	51
PEPCK (adipose)	Glyceroneogenesis	Down	52
aP2	Intracellular lipid shuttling and metabolism	Up	53
GLUT4	Glucose transport	Up	53
HSL	Lipolysis	Up	53
LPL	Lipid metabolism	Up	53
TNF-α	Inflammation and apoptosis	Down	53
Osteocalcin	Marker for mature osteoblasts	Down	54, 55
CRH	Stress mediated/feedback hormone release	Down	56
POMC	Precursor of pituitary hormones	Down	57, 58
Prolactin	Hormone critical for reproduction	Down	59
Proliferin	Angiogenesis	Down	60, 61
Glycoprotein hormone α-subunit	Common subunit of gonadotropin hormones	Down	62, 63
IL-6	Proinflammatory cytokine	Down	64
IL-8	Proinflammatory cytokine	Down	65
Collagenase	Matrix protease	Down	66
ICAM-1	Inflammatory response	Down	39

Abbreviations: TAT, tyrosine aminotransferase; PEPCK, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase; G6Pase, glucose-6-phosphatase; VLDLR, very low density lipoprotein receptor; aP2, adipocyte fatty acid binding protein or A-FABP; GLUT-4, glucose transporter 4; HSL, hormone sensitive lipase; LPL, lipoprotein lipase; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor α; CRH, corticotrophin-releasing hormone; POMC, proopiomelanocortin; IL-6, interleukin 6; IL-8, interleukin 8; ICAM-1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1.

ISSN: 1743-7075