Granner Daryl K, Wang Jen-Chywan, Yamamoto Keith R
Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, 169 Newton Road, 4312 PBDB, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA,
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2015;872:3-31. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2895-8_1.
The history of glucocorticoid hormone research is an excellent example of "bedside to bench" investigation. It started with two very insightful clinical observations. Thomas Addison described the syndrome of what came to be known as adrenal hormone insufficiency and Harvey Cushing the syndrome of glucocorticoid hormone excess. These dramatic and life-threatening conditions spawned 150 years of active research that has involved many disciplines; indeed some of the fundamental observations of molecular biology are the result of this work. We have a fundamental knowledge of how glucocorticoids regulate gene transcription, their major effect. The challenge facing current and future investigators is to discern how to use this information to make these powerful therapeutic agents safer and more effective.
糖皮质激素研究的历史是“床边到 bench（实验室）”研究的一个绝佳范例。它始于两项极具洞察力的临床观察。托马斯·阿狄森描述了后来被称为肾上腺激素不足的综合征，而哈维·库欣描述了糖皮质激素过多的综合征。这些严重且危及生命的病症引发了长达 150 年的积极研究，涉及诸多学科；实际上，分子生物学的一些基础观察结果就是这项工作的成果。我们对糖皮质激素如何调节基因转录（它们的主要作用）有了基础知识。当前和未来的研究人员面临的挑战是弄清楚如何利用这些信息，使这些强大的治疗药物更安全、更有效。
