Endocrinology in the 21st century: unmasking the mysteries of biology

The traditional concept of endocrinology has provided a model, that enabled to understand and treat endocrine diseases. Molecular and (patho)physiological differentiations of this concept will further improve the treatment of complex endocrine and metabolic diseases. Nature has lifted a tip of her veil, reveiling a number of orphan receptors, which may reflect presently unknown physiological pathways and may be important targets for drug development. Although the integrative function of hormones and receptors can be further elucidated by approaches like reverse endocrinology and functional genomics, the structural interaction between bench (basic science) and bedside (clinical endocrinology) will remain instrumental for the progress of endocrinology