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. 2006 Jan 9;147(Suppl 1):S258–S268. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0706456

Figure 2.

Figure 2

Diagram illustrating (a) the amplification of glucocorticoid action in GR-expressing cells by type 1 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD1), which acts as a reductase and reactivates cortisone and (b) protection of mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs) by type 2 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD2), which inactivates cortisol. Note that the reductase activity of 11β-HSD1 is dependent on the local generation of NADP(H) by hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (H6PD). In rodents, 11β-HSD1 and 11β-HSD2 catalyse the interconversion of corticosterone and 11-deoxycorticosterone.