[Interactions between the glucocorticoid receptor and transcription factors]

Transcriptional regulation by glucocorticoids is mediated through an intracellular glucocorticoid receptor which transmits hormone signal to the nucleus. Two types of mechanisms have been attributed for the hormonal regulation of gene promoters. The first one requires DNA binding of the activated receptor to a specific element called GRE (Glucocorticoid Response Element) found in the promoter regions of target genes and the second one involves a direct cross-talk of the GR with transcription factors. Both mechanisms are dependent on the promoter configurations, their chromatin structure or the components of the transcriptional complexes involved in the interaction with the GR. These distinct features specify the activity of the GR as a repressor or activator of transcription.