Cardiac GR and MR: From Development to Pathology

Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2016 Jan;27(1):35-43. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2015.10.001. Epub 2015 Nov 14.

Abstract

The efficacy of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonism in the treatment of certain patients with heart failure has highlighted the pivotal role of aldosterone and MR in heart disease. The glucocorticoid (GC) receptor (GR) is also expressed in heart, but the role of cardiac GR had received much less attention until recently. GR and MR are highly homologous in both structure and function, although not in cellular readout. Recent evidence in animal models has uncovered a tonic role for GC action via GR in cardiomyocytes in prevention of heart disease. Here, we review this evidence and the implications for a balance between GR and MR activation in the early life maturation of the heart and its subsequent health and disease.

Keywords: 11β-HSD; Corticosteroids; glucocorticoid receptor; heart; mineralocorticoid receptor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Heart Diseases / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid / genetics
  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Mineralocorticoid / genetics
  • Receptors, Mineralocorticoid / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology

Substances

  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid
  • Receptors, Mineralocorticoid