NR3C1 (nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 1/glucocorticoid receptor)

NR3C1 gene encodes the human glucocorticoid receptor(hGR), which is a ligand-dependent transcription factor and activates transcription of glucocorticoid-responsive genes through binding directly to glucocorticoid response elements(GREs) in their promoter region, or modulating transcriptional activity of other transcription factors through protein-protein interactions. hGR is implicated in a broad spectrum of biochemical physiologic functions, which are essential for life, and has also a key role in the maintenance of basal and stress-related homeostasis. Almost 20% of the genes expressed in human leukocytes are regulated positively or negatively by the hGR. Approximately every cellular, molecular and other physiologic network in the human body are influenced by this receptor and more specifically growth, reproduction, intermediary metabolism, immune and inflammatory reactions, as well as central nervous system and cardiovascular functions and lymphoproliferative disorders, cellular proliferation and differentiation in target tissues and normal renal tubular function and thus water and electrolyte homeostasis are only some of the examples where hGR is implicated(Nicolaides, Galata, Kino, Chrousos, and Charmandari, 2010).