When glucocorticoid receptor meets the mineralocorticoid receptor in human cells

Glucocorticoids are widely used to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases. Mechanistically glucocorticoid ligands induce glucocorticoid receptor (GR) homodimerization and regulation of gene expression. Here we show that GR and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) form molecular complexes with distinct transcriptional responses that alter the biological roles of GR. MR inhibited GR interaction with genomic DNA and diminished glucocorticoid-regulated gene expression as well as suppressed cell apoptosis induced by GR signaling.