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Assessing Glucocorticoid Receptor Polymorphisms In Obese Populations, Ayanah Dowdye

Honors Theses

The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is part of a family of nuclear receptors that control gene expression. In the presence of the steroid hormone cortisol, certain genes are expressed; the products of which control certain features of the body, including but not limited to, blood pressure, serum triglycerides, and blood sugar. There is evidence that these features are major contributors to obesity. Specific polymorphisms of the GR and other regulators of either GR or the closely related mineralocorticoid receptor such as heat shock protein 90 and 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 have been found in our labs and others to be present …