Expression of glucocorticoid receptor beta in lymphocytes of patients with glucocorticoid-resistant ulcerative colitis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS:

Recently, the glucocorticoid receptor beta (hGRbeta) was suggested to play a role as a dominant negative regulator for determining glucocorticoid response. The aim of this study was to clarify whether reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of hGRbeta messenger RNA (mRNA) can predict the response to glucocorticoids in patients with ulcerative colitis.

METHODS:

Total RNA obtained from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 23 patients with ulcerative colitis and 20 healthy volunteers was reverse transcribed; the resulting complementary DNA was amplified using specific primers for hGRalpha and hGRbeta. Protein expression of hGR in PBMCs was confirmed by immunoprecipitation-Western blot analysis.

RESULTS:

The expression of hGRalpha mRNA (477 base pairs) was detected in all patients and all healthy volunteers. In contrast, a hGRbeta mRNA (366 base pairs) was detected in 1 (9.1%) of 11 glucocorticoid-sensitive patients, 10 (83.3%) of 12 glucocorticoid-resistant patients, and 2 (10%) of 20 healthy volunteers. The positive rate of hGRbeta mRNA in the resistant group was significantly higher than that in the sensitive group (P = 0.0019). The hGRbeta band could be detected by immunoprecipitation-Western blotting in hGRbeta mRNA-positive patients.

CONCLUSIONS:

The results show that the expression of hGRbeta mRNA in PBMCs examined by RT-PCR may serve as a novel predictor of glucocorticoid response in ulcerative colitis.

• Authors: M Honda, F Orii, T Ayabe, S Imai, T Ashida, T Obara, Y Kohgo
• Journal: Gastroenterology (Gastroenterology) Vol. 118 Issue 5 Pg. 859-66 (May 2000) ISSN: 0016-5085 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10784585 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Glucocorticoids
• RNA, Messenger
• Receptors, Glucocorticoid
• glucocorticoid receptor beta

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Colitis, Ulcerative (blood, drug therapy, metabolism)
• Drug Resistance
• Female
• Glucocorticoids (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Lymphocytes (metabolism)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• RNA, Messenger (metabolism)
• Receptors, Glucocorticoid (genetics, metabolism)
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction