Skip to main content

Hormonal Receptor Expression

Meaning

Hormonal Receptor Expression quantifies the density and location of specific protein receptors on target cells that are capable of binding circulating steroid or peptide hormones. This metric directly determines a tissue’s sensitivity or responsiveness to systemic endocrine signals. Low expression can mimic hormone deficiency even when circulating hormone levels are adequate, illustrating a critical point of failure. Conversely, upregulated expression can lead to hypersensitivity or aberrant signaling patterns. Evaluating expression levels is foundational to understanding endocrine resistance states.