Insulin resistance has been proposed as a mediator of the association between risk factors for cardiovascular disease in the population. The clinical syndrome of glucocorticoid excess (Cushing's syndrome) is associated with glucose intolerance, obesity and hypertension. By opposing the actions of insulin, glucocorticoids could contribute to insulin resistance and its association with other cardiovascular risk factors. In this review, we describe briefly the known mechanisms of insulin resistance and highlight the potential mechanisms for the effect of glucocorticoids. We then discuss factors which modulate the influence of glucocorticoids on insulin sensitivity; this highlights a novel therapeutic strategy to manipulate glucocorticoid action which may prove to be a useful tool in treating subjects with insulin resistance. Finally, we describe evidence from human studies that glucocorticoids make an important contribution to the pathophysiology of insulin resistance in the population.
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April 16 1999
Glucocorticoids and insulin resistance: old hormones, new targets
Robert C. ANDREWS;
Robert C. ANDREWS
1University of Edinburgh, Department of Medical Sciences, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, Scotland, U.K.
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Brian R. WALKER
1University of Edinburgh, Department of Medical Sciences, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, Scotland, U.K.
Correspondence: Dr Brian R. Walker.
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
The Biochemical Society and the Medical Research Society © 1999
1999
Clin Sci (Lond) (1999) 96 (5): 513–523.
Citation
Robert C. ANDREWS, Brian R. WALKER; Glucocorticoids and insulin resistance: old hormones, new targets. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 May 1999; 96 (5): 513–523. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/cs0960513
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