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Hormone Resistance

Meaning

Hormone resistance is a clinical and physiological state characterized by a diminished biological response in target tissues despite the presence of normal or elevated circulating levels of a specific hormone. This lack of responsiveness often stems from defects at the cellular level, impacting receptor binding, post-receptor signaling pathways, or gene transcription. The most well-known example is insulin resistance, which is central to the pathophysiology of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Understanding and addressing hormone resistance is a core challenge in endocrinology, as it fundamentally impairs the body’s ability to maintain systemic homeostasis.