Low levels of glucocorticoid binding sites in circulating lymphocytes of premature infants suffering from hyaline membrane disease.
The number and affinity of glucocorticoid binding sites in lymphocytes of newborns and prematures were determined by a whole cell [3H]dexamethasone binding assay. The average binding capacities were as follows: 1758 +/- 245 binding sites/cell in cord blood, 2758 +/- 307 binding sites/cell in mature newborns (Kd: 6,23 X 10(-9) M), and 2031 +/- 330 binding sites/cell in prematures. No specific binding was measurable in several cases. All the prematures, who did not display a measurable glucocorticoid binding capacity, suffered from a serious hyaline membrane disease (HMD), they died on 3.5-4 days of life. HMD diagnosis was established in 12 cases in toto. The number of glucocorticoid binding sites was significantly smaller in this group (639 +/- 216 per cell) than in the case of the rest of prematures (2959 +/- 404 per cell, P less than 0.001). Our results suggest that lack of glucocorticoid receptors may be one of the causes of the HMD.
D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000378:metabolism; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006819:Hyaline Membrane Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011284:Pregnenolone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000378:metabolism*; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000378:metabolism*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; C012507:5-pregnen-3 beta-ol; D011284:Pregnenolone; D003907:Dexamethasone