The DOI matches its Crossref record; 39 of the 39 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Glucocorticoids: exemplars of multi-tasking
Open accessAbstract
Well over 80 years ago Philip Smith described the beneficial clinical effects of adrenocortical extracts in animal models of adrenal insufficiency. In the ensuing years, scientists across the globe have sought to understand the mechanisms by which adrenal hormones and their synthetic analogues produce their complex and varied actions. Particular attention has focused on the glucocorticoids, partly because they have a vital place in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders but also because dysregulation of the secretion and/or activity of endogenous glucocorticoids is increasingly implicated in a number of common disorders that pose a growing clinical burden, such as obesity, type II diabetes, the metabolic syndrome, hypertension and depression. This review considers some of the key advances that have been made in our understanding of the physiology, pathology and pharmacology of the glucocorticoids. Emphasis is placed on the molecular mechanisms of glucocorticoid signalling and the complex mechanisms that regulate the access of steroids in the systemic circulation to their receptors in their various target cells and tissues. In addition, consideration is given to the irreversible 'organisational' actions of glucocorticoids in perinatal life and to the potential role of the steroids in the aetiology of disease.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“HPA axis dysfunction is linked to a decline in cognitive function, aging, immune system dysfunction, and systemic inflammation (135).”
From Signalling cognition: The gut microbiota and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (2023) · cites this paper as [135]
In the citing paper
“These peptides stimulate the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from corticotropic cells of the anterior pituitary gland, which in turn targets the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex to produce glucocorticoids, such as cortisol in humans and corticosterone in rodents (133–135).”
From Signalling cognition: The gut microbiota and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (2023) · cites this paper as [135]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
Sapolsky, R. M., Romero, L. M., & Munck, A. U. (2000) · Endocrine Reviews · doi:10.1210/edrv.21.1.0389 · Cited by 7,541
Sapolsky, R. M. (2000) · Endocrine Reviews · doi:10.1210/er.21.1.55 · Cited by 7,533
Brain corticosteroid receptor balance in health and disease
de Kloet, E. R., Vreugdenhil, E., Oitzl, M. S., & Joëls, M. (1998) · Endocrine Reviews · doi:10.1210/edrv.19.3.0331 · Cited by 2,614
Brain corticosteroid receptor balance in health and disease
de Kloet, E. R. (1998) · Endocrine Reviews · doi:10.1210/er.19.3.269 · Cited by 2,614
Barker, D. J., Osmond, C., Golding, J., Kuh, D., & Wadsworth, M. E. (1989) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.298.6673.564 · Cited by 2,415
Steroid hormone receptors: Many Actors in search of a plot
Beato, M., Herrlich, P. A., & Schütz, G. (1995) · Cell · doi:10.1016/0092-8674(95)90201-5 · Cited by 1,816
DNA binding of the glucocorticoid receptor is not essential for survival
Reichardt, H. M., Kaestner, K. H., Tuckermann, J., Kretz, O., Wessely, O., Bock, R., Gass, P., Schmid, W., Herrlich, P., Angel, P., et al. (1998) · Cell · doi:10.1016/s0092-8674(00)81183-6 · Cited by 1,068
Owens, P. C., Smith, R., Brinsmead, M. W., Hall, C., Foureur, M. J., Hurt, D., Lovelock, M., Chan, E.-C., Cubis, J., & Lewin, T. J. (1987) · Life Sciences · doi:10.1016/0024-3205(87)90603-5 · Cited by 958
Flower, R. J., & Blackwell, G. J. (1979) · Nature · doi:10.1038/278456a0 · Cited by 927
Prenatal glucocorticoids and long-term programming
Seckl (2004) · European Journal of Endocrinology · doi:10.1530/eje.0.151u049 · Cited by 825
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 4
- 10.1210/en.137.2.794 · DOI
- BUCKINGHAM J.C., 1996, The Physiology of Immunity, 331
- BUCKINGHAM J.C., 1997, Secretion of corticotrophin‐releasing hormone and arginine vasopressin by the neonatal rat hypothalamus in vitro: age‐dependent maturation of the responses to cytokines and modulation by glucocorticoids and lipocortin 1, Dev. Dysfunct., 10, 482
- PEARSON MURPHY B.E., 2002, Encyclopaedia of Stress, 244
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 201–278 of 278
Mitchell, O., Roddy, D. W., & Connaughton, M. (2025) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106434 · Cited by 2
(2019) · Current Science International · doi:10.36632/csi/2019.8.4.23 · Cited by 2
(2023) · SCIENCE AND SPORT current trends · doi:10.36028/2308-8826-2023-11-3-22-29 · Cited by 2
Jalaleddin, G., Modaresi, M., Mansouri, S., & Fahimeh, Y. N. (2015) · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · Cited by 2
Henríquez, R., Olivares, R., Caro, G., Guevara, V. M., & Lizana, P. A. (2013) · International Journal of Morphology · doi:10.4067/s0717-95022013000300042 · Cited by 2
Lizana, P. A., Henríquez, R., & Muñoz, P. (2012) · International Journal of Morphology · doi:10.4067/s0717-95022012000300059 · Cited by 2
Regulation of Bovine Herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) Productive Infection by Cellular Transcription Factors
Workman, A. M. (2011) · Lincoln (University of Nebraska) · Cited by 2
Regulação da produção hormonal da glândula pineal de ratos por moduladores do processo inflamatório.
Paulo, S. (2009) · Cited by 2
Acute stress disrupts temporal patterns of behavioral and biochemical parameters of rats
de Souza, A., Detanico, B. C., Medeiros, L. F., de Oliveira, C., Scarabelot, V. L., Cioato, S. G., Caumo, W., & Torres, I. L. D. S. (2017) · Biological Rhythm Research · doi:10.1080/09291016.2017.1386267 · Cited by 1
Wicka, M., Grucza, K., Drapała, A., Konarski, P., & Kwiatkowska, D. (2023) · Separations · doi:10.3390/separations10030155 · Cited by 2
Mascayano, C., Muñoz-Osses, M., Navarrete, E., Torres, P., Torres-González, S., Morales, P., & Huidobro-Toro, J. P. (2023) · Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics · doi:10.1080/07391102.2023.2276875 · Cited by 2
[Topics of glucocorticoids--centered on therapy for rheumatoid arthritis].
Akama, H. (2011) · Nihon Rinsho Men'eki Gakkai kaishi = Japanese journal of clinical immunology · doi:10.2177/jsci.34.464 · Cited by 2
Functional Links Between Glucocorticoids and Cytokines In DBA
Pediatrics, J., Care, C., & In, C. (2015) · Journal of Pediatrics & Child Care · doi:10.13188/2380-0534.1000001 · Cited by 2
Swartz, J. (2014) · KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology) · Cited by 2
11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 : a new therapeutic target post-myocardial infarction?
McSweeney, S. J. (2010) · ERA · Cited by 2
Psychophysiological Responses to Distress and Eustress
Nagy, T. (2016) · Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem · doi:10.15476/elte.2015.120 · Cited by 3
Hulme, P. A. (2011) · Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association · doi:10.1177/1078390311422564 · Cited by 1
Hamidian, G., Alboghobeish, N., Varzi, H. N., & Esmaeilzadeh, S. (2009) · Journal of Cell and Animal Biology · doi:10.5897/jcab.9000163 · Cited by 1
Dexamethasone Antagonizes Myotoxic and Inflammatory Effects Induced by Bothrops Snake Venoms
Patrão-Neto, F. C., Tomaz, M. A., & Melo, P. A. (2017) · Toxinology · doi:10.1007/978-94-007-6452-1_9 · Cited by 1
Endocrine disorders in the critically ill
Hall, G., Hunter, J. M., & Cooper, M. S. (2010) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511750441.015 · Cited by 1
Neurologic Complications of Corticosteroids in Cancer Therapy
Dunbar, E. M., Wang, Y., & Kesari, S. (2017) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-57901-6_19 · Cited by 1
Trend of Drug Abuse in 2011– 2014 in Italy
Sacco, A., Macchiarella, A., Amato, A., Commare, D. L., Contrò, V., & Proia, P. (2017) · Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine · doi:10.18276/cej.2017.3-07 · Cited by 1
Allolio, B., Nies, C., Moll, R., Klose, K., Kann, P. H., Pfestroff, A., Waldmann, J., Bartsch, D. K., Lehnert, H., Dralle, H., et al. (2012) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-14285-7_4 · Cited by 1
Yao, J., Chen, S., Zhu, Z., Chen, J., Xia, J., Fang, B., Guo, J., Wu, B., & Ma, G. (2025) · Biomedical Materials · doi:10.1088/1748-605x/adc864 · Cited by 1
Bergström, I. (2015) · Linköping University medical dissertations · doi:10.3384/diss.diva-114123 · Cited by 1
The Glucocorticoid Receptor in Retroviral Infection
Fouty, B., & Solodushko, V. (2011) · InTech eBooks · doi:10.5772/21722 · Cited by 1
Goudochnikov, V. I. (2018) · Lungs and Breathing · doi:10.15761/lbj.1000134 · Cited by 1
Glucocorticoid receptors function in the pathophysiology of brain hypoxia
Gregrowicz, J., & Rogalska, J. (2019) · Postępy Higieny i Medycyny Doświadczalnej · doi:10.5604/01.3001.0013.7193 · Cited by 1
González-Pérez, Ó., Norma, A., & Guzmán‐Muñiz, J. (2011) · InTech eBooks · doi:10.5772/19503
Garvin, P. (2008) · KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology) · Cited by 1
Csabafi, K. (2014) · SZTE Repository of Dissertations (University of Szeged) · doi:10.14232/phd.2475 · Cited by 1
Biological role of conceptus derived factors during early pregnancy in ruminants
Brooks, K. E. (2016) · MOspace Institutional Repository (University of Missouri) · doi:10.32469/10355/57019 · Cited by 1
Modelling the glucocorticoid receptor dimerisation cycle
Barry, C. J. (2017) · SUNScholar (Stellenbosch University) · Cited by 1
Ghrelin - The Defender of Fat in the Face of Stress: Implications in Obesity Treatment
Patterson, Z. R. (2014) · Carleton University's Institutional Repository (MacOdrum Library, Carleton University) · doi:10.22215/etd/2014-10055 · Cited by 1
Glutathione-decorated dendrons as potential drug carrier systems in Multiple Sclerosis
Masheta, D. (2017) · Cited by 1
Patel, S., & Rai, S. (2024) · Preprints.org · doi:10.20944/preprints202405.1197.v1 · Cited by 1
Hadley, K. (2010) · Open University of Cape Town (University of Cape Town) · Cited by 1
de Macedo, I. C. (2010) · Americanae (AECID Library) · Cited by 1
Papel da corticosterona na vigência do estresse sobre a função pineal em ratos.
Moraes, R. C. (2010) · Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (Universidade de São Paulo) · doi:10.11606/t.42.2010.tde-18102010-153227
Glucocorticoid receptor activation by long acting steroids and its modification by inflammation
Yang, J. (2007) · edoc (University of Basel) · doi:10.5451/unibas-004365943
Glucocorticóides e depressão: anedonia induzida por dexametasona /
Casarotto, P. C. (2007) · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Verhees, K. J. P. (2013) · Research Publications (Maastricht University) · doi:10.26481/dis.20130619kv
Pharmakotherapie mit Glukokortikoiden
Allolio, B., & Hahner, S. (2010) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-3-437-24680-7.10069-8
Blockade of nitric oxide synthesis stimulates the activity of adrenal cortex
Djikić, D., Budeč, M., Sanja, V.-D., Koko, V., Vignjević, S., & Ajtić, O. M. (2013) · Medicinski casopis · doi:10.5937/mckg47-3046
The rewarding and cognitive effects of corticosterone in mice
Ebada, M. E. (2012) · Nottingham ePrints (University of Nottingham)
Ehlers, L. (2014) · SUNScholar (Stellenbosch University)
Bromander, S. (2013) · Gothenburg University Publications Electronic Archive (Gothenburg University)
Ninomiya, E. M. (2009) · LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Nagalski, A., & Kiersztan, A. (2010)
Perinatal Nicotine Exposure and Programming of HIE Sensitive Phenotype in Neonatal Rat Brains
Li, Y. (2013) · The Scholars Repository - LLU (Loma Linda University)
Er, A., Çorum, O., Faki, H. E., Bahçıvan, E., Dik, B., & Yazar, E. (2016) · Eurasian journal of veterinary sciences · doi:10.15312/eurasianjvetsci.2016215993
Stress : Clinical and Developmental Aspects of Salivary Cortisol in Infants
Ivars, K. (2016) · Linköping University Electronic Press eBooks · doi:10.3384/diss.diva-127498
Glucocorticoids in the critically ill
O'Neil, P., & Webster, N. R. (2010) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511750441.017
Physiological correlates of emotion regulation in depersonalization disorder
Monde, K.-M. (2014) · CUNY Academic Works (City University of New York)
Non‐Targeted Therapeutics for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Rogler, G. (2010) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781444318418.ch24
Glucocorticoid Receptor Function and its Role in Tamoxifen Resistance
Sellars, E. (2015) · QSpace (Queen's University Library)
Pisarczyk-Wiza, D., Ziemnicka, K., Budny, B., & Zozulińska‐Ziółkiewicz, D. (2014) · Via Medica Journals
Saleem, M. (2011) · TSpace (University of Toronto)
Stress and adiposity in children
Michels, N., & Huybrechts, I. (2016) · Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University)
Daugherty, A. C., Farrington, C., Hakim, I., Mujahid, S., Noblin, E. S., Radin, A. M., Chua, M., Rabe, M. D., Fernald, G. H., Ford, D., et al. (2018) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/243998
Williams, N. (2018) · Cronfa (Swansea University) · doi:10.23889/suthesis.43713
The Role of Cortisol in Breast Cancer Initiation and Progression
Ritchie, J. C. (2008) · Scholarship at UWindsor (University of Windsor)
The protective Effect of Nigella sativa on sperm parameter in mice treated with dexamethasone
miri, S., Abouzaripour, M., Rezaie, M. J., Fathi, F., Nikkho, B., Roshani, D., Khalesro, S., & Daneshi, E. (2020) · Scientific Journal of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences · doi:10.52547/sjku.25.3.99
Fatty acid binding proteins shape the cellular response to activation of the glucocorticoid receptorPreprint
Liu, B., Chandrashekaran, I. R., Ilyichova, O. V., Valour, D., Melchiore, F., Bourrier, C., Giganti, A., Stéphan, J.-P., Dacquet, C., Genissel, P., et al. (2021) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2021.07.02.450968
Epidural Hematoma: The Outcome of Glucocorticoids’ Complementary Use to Surgical Treatment
Kourouklari, E., Charalambous, D., Faropoulos, K., & Fotakopoulos, G. (2022) · Cureus · doi:10.7759/cureus.22607
Cardiovascular response to mental stress
Barthelmes, J., & Sudano, I. (2018) · doi:10.1093/med/9780198784906.003.0027_update_001
Dexamethasone Antagonizes Myotoxic and Inflammatory Effects Induced by Bothrops Snake Venoms
Patrão-Neto, F. C., Tomaz, M. A., & Melo, P. A. (2015) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-94-007-6726-3_9-1
(2008) · Disease Models & Mechanisms · doi:10.1242/dmm.001735
The pleiotropic effects of dexamethasone on breast cancer cell behaviour
Crozier, M. (2014)
Modulation de la sénescence induite par les oncogènes par les glucocorticoïdes et rôle de EGR1
Carvalho, C. (2018) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/7cafc6a4za30dz467dz81a1z7033a7846a52
IMPACT DE L’HYPERCORTICISME SUR L’AXE GONADOTROPE FEMELLE
Ayrout, M. (2018) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/194a6ff5z99f6z4ef0z800ez5473528e7a30
Matsuo, R., Kimura, M., Ikeda, A., Yamagishi, K., Muraki, I., Shimizu, Y., Ohira, T., Imano, H., Iso, H., & Tanigawa, T. (2026) · Hypertension Research · doi:10.1038/s41440-026-02678-6
Halima, H. B., Zine, N., Bausells, J., Errachid, A., & Jaffrezic-Renault, N. J. (2026) · Biosensors · doi:10.3390/bios16100561
BindingDB (2021) · UC San Diego · doi:10.7270/q21n84gf
Mparmpakas, D. (2011) · Brunel University Research Archive (BURA) (Brunel University London)
van Zuiden, M., Heijnen, C. J., Maas, M., Amarouchi, K., Vermetten, E., Geuze, E., & Kavelaars, A. (2012) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.03.018 · Cited by 91
Metadata
- Authors
- Buckingham, J. C.
- Affiliations
- Imperial College London (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Buckingham, Julia C
- Venue
- British Journal of Pharmacology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2006-01
- Volume
- 147
- Issue
- S1
- Pages
- S258-68
- ISSN
- 0007-1188 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-5381
- PMC
- PMC1760726
- OpenAlex
- W1594205240
- Cited by
- 276
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 2.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- British Journal of Pharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/E52708X/1)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Endocrinology › Estrogen and related hormone effects
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adrenal Hormones and Disorders
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Keywords
- glucocorticoids, glucocorticoid signaling, steroid hormone receptors, adrenal insufficiency, adrenocortical extract, obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, depression, etiology
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Arthritis, Rheumatoid, Depressive Disorder, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Glucocorticoids, Humans, Hypertension, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Obesity, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Receptors, Glucocorticoid, Signal Transduction
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review