Glucocorticoid metabolism is exquisitely controlled by isoforms of the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD). Although the regulation of glucocorticoid activity by 11β-HSD type 1 (11β-HSD1) has been characterised in several tissues, understanding of the functional role of glucocorticoid metabolism by 11β-HSD1 in the heart has remained elusive.

In this review, Gray et al. explore the evidence for the functional and physiological roles of glucocorticoid metabolism in the heart, including postnatal growth of the myocardium and development of coronary heart disease, and the response to myocardial infarction-induced injury.

Read the full article in Journal of Molecular Endocrinology 58 R1–R13