Abstract

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are steroid hormones, secreted in a circadian rhythm from the adrenal glands, under the control of Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis (HPA Axis) [1]. These hormones are rapidly secreted in response to stressful conditions and exert effects on various systems of our body. In detail, GCs regulate multiple, vital physiological and developmental functions, ranging from lung maturation, lipid, glucose and protein metabolism to inflammatory and immune response. GCs exert their action mainly through their glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which is being expressed in almost every human cell. Furthermore, GCs can, under specific circumstances, act through binding to the mineral corticoid receptor (MR).