The glucocorticoid receptor (GR, or GCR) also known as NR3C1 (nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 1) is the receptor to which cortisol and other glucocorticoids bind.
The GR is expressed in almost every cell in the body and regulates genes controlling the development, metabolism, and immune response. Because the receptor gene is expressed in several forms, it has many different (pleiotropic) effects in different parts of the body.
When the GR binds to glucocorticoids, its primary mechanism of action is the regulation of gene transcription. The unbound receptor resides in the cytosol of the cell (the part of the cell outside of the nucleus). After the receptor is bound to glucocorticoid, the receptor-glucorticoid complex can take either of two paths. The activated GR complex up-regulates the expression of anti-inflammatory proteins in the nucleus or represses the expression of pro-inflammatory proteins in the cytosol (by preventing the translocation of other transcription factors from the cytosol into the nucleus).
In humans, the GR protein is encoded by NR3C1 gene which is located on chromosome 5 (5q31).
Read more about Glucocorticoid Receptor: Structure, Ligand Binding and Response, Clinical Significance, Agonists and Antagonists, Interactions
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