title: Effects of glucocorticoids in rheumatoid arthritis. Diminished glucocorticoid receptors do not result in glucocorticoid resistance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lymphocytes of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have diminished receptor density; thus, patients with RA should show partial resistance to glucocorticoids. We investigated the glucocorticoid sensitivity of lymphocytes in RA patients compared with healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined the effects of glucocorticoids on lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine release.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Proliferation and cytokine release were inhibited in RA patients to the same extent as in healthy controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diminished receptor density in RA patients does not result in glucocorticoid resistance.
authors.affiliation: Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schlaghecke
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Beuscher
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kornely
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Specker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D005448:Fluocortolone / Q000378:metabolism; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008934:Mitogens; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D005448:Fluocortolone; D006854:Hydrocortisone