Difference Between Steroid and Corticosteroid

Thekey difference类固醇之间的一个d corticosteroid is thatsteroids are components in biological systems and can alter the membrane fluidity in细胞膜and act as a signalling molecule,whereas corticosteroids are a type of steroid hormones.

类固醇是在细胞调节过程中很重要的生物成分。皮质类固醇是一种类固醇。they are steroid hormones.

CONTENTS

1.Overview and Key Difference
2.What is a Steroid
3.什么是皮质类固醇
4.并排比较 - 类固醇与皮质类固醇的表格形式
5.概括

What is a Steroid?

A steroid is an organic compound we can find in biological systems. It acts as a component in altering the membrane fluidity of cell membrane and as a signalling molecule in cells. It is, therefore, a biologically active organic compound. The steroid molecule has a specific molecular configuration; there are four ring structures arranged in a specific way as given in the following image.

There are many different steroid compounds in plants, animals and fungi. These steroids are produced in the cells. The source of the steroid production is either sterols lanosterol or cycloartenol. These compounds are derived from the cyclization of the triterpene squalene.

The core structure of a steroid compound typically has 17 carbon atoms that are bonded to each other in the four fused ring structures. There are three 6-membered cyclohexane rings and a 5-membered cyclopentane ring.

A steroid differs from another steroid according to the官能团that are attached to this four-ring core structure. Moreover, the oxidation state of the ring structures can cause the difference between the two steroid compounds. Examples for most common steroid compounds include lipid cholesterol, estradiol hormone, testosterone, etc.

What is Corticosteroid?

Corticosteroids are organic compounds that can be introduced as steroid hormones. These compounds are produced mainly in the adrenal cortex of vertebrates. There are two major classes of corticosteroids:糖皮质激素and mineralocorticoids.

There are many roles of these steroid compounds such as stress response, immune response, regulation of inflammation, carbohydrate metabolism, protein catabolism, blood electrolyte level regulation, effects on behaviour, etc. Some common corticosteroids include cortisol, corticosterone, cortisone, aldosterone, etc.

What is the Difference Between Steroid and Corticosteroid?

类固醇是在细胞调节过程中很重要的生物成分。皮质类固醇是一种类固醇。皮质类固醇是类固醇激素。类固醇和皮质类固醇之间的关键区别在于，类固醇是成分可以改变生物系统细胞膜中的膜流动性并充当信号分子，而皮质类固醇是一种类固醇激素。皮质类固醇有两个类别作为糖皮质激素和矿物皮质激素，而类固醇可以按功能和结构分为不同的类。脂质胆固醇，雌二醇激素，睾丸激素等是类固醇的一些例子，而皮质醇，可皮质酮，可皮质酮，醛固酮等是皮质类固醇的一些例子。

The following table summarizes the difference between steroid and corticosteroid.

概括– Steroid vs Corticosteroid

皮质类固醇是一种类固醇。皮质类固醇是类固醇激素。The key difference between steroid and corticosteroid is that steroids are components in biological systems and can alter the membrane fluidity in cell membranes and act as a signalling molecule whereas corticosteroids are a type of steroid hormones. Moreover, some examples of steroids include lipid cholesterol, estradiol hormone, testosterone, etc. while some examples of corticosteroids include cortisol, corticosterone, cortisone, aldosterone, etc.

Reference:

1. Omudhome Ogbru, “Corticosteroids: Drug List, Side Effects & Dosage”. Medicinenet,Available here.
2. “Corticosteroid.”Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Nov. 2020,Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Trimethyl steroid-nomenclature” By NEUROtiker (talk) – Own work (Public Domain) viaCommons Wikimedia
2. “Cortisol3” By NEUROtiker – Own work (Public Domain) viaCommons Wikimedia