These are named after their effects on carbohydrate metabolism. Major actions are listed in Box 21.13. They act on intracellular corti- costeroid receptors and combine with coactivating proteins to bind the ‘glucocorticoid response element’ (GRE) in specific regions of DNA to cause gene transcription. Glucocorticoid action is modified locally by the action of 11β- hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11βHSD). 11βHSD type 1 converts inactive cortisone into active cortisol, hence amplifying the hormone signal, while 11βHSD type 2 does the opposite