Cortisol: funcions i importància del receptor glucocorticoide : una visió comparada

Authors

  • Laura Acerete
  • Simon A. MacKenzie
  • Lluís Tort

Abstract

Corticosteroid hormones are essential for the regulation of a wide variety of physiological processes. Cortisol is the most important corticoesteroid in teleost fish, with glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid functions. It is the principal indicator of stress response, and it is the main hormone in osmoregulation in fish, especially in seawater adaptation. It also participates in the regulation of the inflammatory response inhibiting the production of cytokines after an immune challenge by the endotoxin of gramnegative bacteria or LPS. An experimental infection by LPS unleash an innate immune reaction that activates an inflamatory response. The cytokines produced in response to exposure to LPS are also involved in the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal axis (HPI) through the activation of the adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) and the cortisol release. On the other hand, the effects of corticosteroid hormones are mediated through intracellular receptors that act as ligand-dependant transcription factors and activate different genes involve in the stress response. These receptors are the receptor type I or mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and the receptor type II or glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Therefore, the neuro-immune-endocrine comunication in vertebrates is crucial to maintain the homeostasis and the cortisol receptor plays a key role.

Published

2007-12-28