Cortisol is one of the stress hormones in our body.
In everyday life, when we are affected by emotions such as fear, anxiety, or stress, cortisol rises rapidly and is transported into the bloodstream as energy by breaking down amino acids, glucose, and fatty acids. It is also known as the "stress or fight" hormone and is a stress hormone produced by humans to protect themselves; without cortisol, we would be helpless and unresponsive when danger strikes.
 

What is Cortisol?

Cortisol, also known as hydrocortisone or compound F, is the adrenocorticotropic hormone derived from the adrenal cortex that has the most potent effect on glucose metabolism, i.e., it belongs to the class of glucocorticoids. Cortisol is sometimes used to refer specifically to the basic "stress hormone".
 
Cortisol is produced from 11-deoxycortisol by the action of 11β-hydroxylase in the mitochondria of the adrenal cortex. Cortisol can also be turned into cortisol by the action of 11-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.
 
Cortisol is a commonly used indicator of stress and can be measured in blood, saliva, urine, hair, and feces.
 

Basis of Action of Cortisol

Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone, secreted by the adrenal cortex. Its mechanism of action involves the following main aspects:
 
1. Anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive: Cortisol reduces the inflammatory response by inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins and interleukins. At the same time, it inhibits the activity of immune cells and reduces the immune response.

2. Regulation of blood glucose: Cortisol stimulates the synthesis of glucose in the liver (a process known as gluconeogenesis) and inhibits the action of insulin, which prevents glucose from entering the cells, thus raising blood glucose levels.

3. Coping with stress: Cortisol secretion increases in response to stress (e.g., illness, injury, fear, etc.), helping the body to adjust energy distribution in response to stress.

4. Regulating water-salt balance: Cortisol can increase the reabsorption of sodium ions in renal tubules and decrease the excretion of sodium ions in urine, thus affecting water-salt balance and blood pressure.

The mechanism of action of cortisol mainly affects cell function and metabolism by binding to intracellular cortisol receptors and altering gene transcription.
 

Biosynthesis of Cortisol

Cortisol is synthesized from cholesterol. Synthesis occurs in the fasciculus region of the adrenal cortex. The adrenal cortex also produces aldosterone (in the zona glomerulosa) and some sex hormones (in the zona reticularis), but cortisol is the main secretion in humans and some other species. However, in cattle, corticosterone levels may approach or exceed cortisol levels. The adrenal medulla is located below the cortex and secretes mainly catecholamine adrenaline (epinephrine) and norepinephrine in response to sympathetic stimulation. Adrenal cortisol synthesis is stimulated by adrenocorticotropic hormone from the anterior pituitary. CRH released from the hypothalamus then stimulates the production of ACTH. ACTH increases the inner mitochondrial membrane cholesterol concentration by regulating the production of acute regulatory proteins for steroidogenesis. It also stimulates a critical rate-limiting step in cortisol synthesis, in which cholesterol is converted to pregnenolone catalyzed by cytochrome P450SCC, a side-chain cleavage enzyme.
 

Field of Research

Cortisol has been studied in a wide range of areas, and the following are some of the major areas of research:
 
1. Cortisol and the stress response: studying how cortisol affects the body's response to stress and how chronic stress affects cortisol secretion and function.
 
2. Cortisol and the immune system: studying how cortisol affects the immune response and how it can be used to treat immune-related diseases.
 
3. Cortisol and Metabolic Diseases: To study how cortisol affects glucose metabolism and fat metabolism, and how cortisol is involved in the development of metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and obesity.
 
4. Cortisol and the Nervous System: To study how cortisol affects the functioning of the nervous system, including memory, mood, and sleep.
 
5. Pharmacological studies of cortisol: research on how to better utilize cortisol-based drugs to treat diseases and how to reduce the side effects of cortisol-based drugs.
 
6. Biomarker studies of cortisol: to study the use of cortisol as a biomarker in the diagnosis and prognostic assessment of diseases.
 
All of these areas of research will help us to better understand the physiologic function and pathologic role of cortisol.
 

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