There is a gene called CYP 17 in chromosome 10. This gene creates enzyme which able to break down cholesterol to its simple forms. We know that cholesterol is synonimous with poison. It causes death and some suffocating disease, that left you high and dry. Cholesterol itself is made from some hormones like testosterone, progesterone, cortisol, corticosterone, oestradiol. Without this enzyme, the pathway is blocked and the only hormones taht can be produced are progesterone and cortocisterone. People who lack a working of this gene cannot make other sex hormones, simply goes like if you genetically male, you look like girls.

Cortisol is one of hormones that made by this gene. It's used in integrating body and mind. It interferes with the immune system, changes the sensitivity of ears, eyes, and nose. It also alters body function. By definition, when you have a lot of cortisol in your veins, you are under stress. Cortisol and stress are also synonymous.

Although stress is caused by the outside world, such as heading on to exams or exhaustion. Stress is divided into two stressors: short term and long term. Short term stressors cause an increase in norepinephrine and epinephrine, both makes the heart beat faster and the feet go cold. Long term stressors that last for longer activate a different pathway that results in a much slower. High of cortisol also makes your immune system goes lack. That's why people who in high stress are more likely to catch colds and other infection. Cortisol is reducing the number and lifetime of lymphocytes.

In white blood cells cortisol is certainly involved in switching a gene called TCF, also on chromosome 10, which able to make its own protein, whose job to suppress another protein called interleukin 2 that puts white blood cells on alert. So cortisol, suppresses the immune system but makes you more susceptible to disease.

Labels: biology, cholesterol, chromosomes, cortisol, genes, lymphocyte, white blood cell