The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a ubiquitously expressed transcription factor that mediates the effects of glucocorticoids. The most abundant isoform is GR α. GR induces or represses the expression of genes in response to glucocorticoids, mediating such processes as apoptosis, cell growth and differentiation. A significant class of genes suppressed by GR is controlled by the transcription factor AP-1. GR has also been shown to be the limiting factor in the induction of gene expression by glucocorticoids. It has been revealed that GR forms a complex with HSP 90, rendering the non-ligand bound receptor transcriptionally inactive. More importantly, mutant GRs lacking the signaling domain remain constitutively active.
