Cortisol is the principal secretary glucocorticoid of human adrenal cortex. It is produced as cortisone but converted to a biologically active form, cortisol, by the activity of enzyme 11β- hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11-HSD).
Cortisol is the principal secretary glucocorticoid of human adrenal cortex. It is produced as cortisone but converted to a biologically active form, cortisol, by the activity of enzyme 11β- hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11-HSD). Cortisol is bound to corticosteroid-binding globulin in the plasma. The organs that produce 11-HSD and involved in metabolizing and clearing it from plasma cortisol are kidney and the liver. Cortisol may be oxidised at 11-hydroxt position to result in the production of cortisone, dihydrocortisone, or tetrahydrocortisone. Cortisol and other glucocorticoids bind to the human glucocorticoid receptor (hGR) that is predominantly present in the cytoplasm. On binding, the recptor-ligand complex translocate to nucleus where the transcription of target genes is induced. Deficiency in the levels of 11-HSD are responsible for juvenile hypertension, (a feature of Apparent Mineralocorticoid Excess syndrome), edema, heart failure and hypokalemia (licorice intoxication).
