Rs9493857

The ancestral allele at rs9493857 results in increased GR-binding and glucocorticoid-regulated gene expression, suggesting that an increased stress response (i.e., glucocorticoid responsiveness) was advantageous in ancestral human populations. We speculate that, in modern times, such variation could favor the negative effects of a heightened glucocorticoid response, potentially predisposing individuals to chronic diseases such as metabolic syndrome and hypertension.