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Steroid Hormone Superfamily

Meaning

The Steroid Hormone Superfamily refers to a large and critical class of lipid-soluble signaling molecules derived from cholesterol, encompassing sex hormones like estrogens and androgens, as well as glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and Vitamin D. These hormones are biochemically characterized by their common four-ring sterane chemical structure and their shared mechanism of action, which primarily involves binding to specific intracellular nuclear receptors. They are essential, ubiquitous regulators of gene expression, metabolism, inflammation, fluid balance, and reproductive function throughout the human body.