Studies on the mechanism of action of synthetic ligands of the vitamin D and estrogen receptor

Nuclear hormones play a key role in embtyonic development, growth and differentiation of cells and tissues, and in maintenance of homeostasis. They exert their action via a large group of nuclear, transctiption factors gathered in the nuclear receptor superfamily. This superfamily consists of receptors for estrogen, glucocorticoid, mineralocotlicoid, androgen, progesterone, but also contains receptors for vitamin D, retinoids, fatty acids, and thyroid hormone. Futlhetmore, a large number of so-called orphan receptors are included for which ligands and functions are at the moment unknown.