[Expression of the nuclear glucocorticoid receptor in human pigment epithelium].
BACKGROUND
Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) may follow complicated retinal detachment. The normally quiescent retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) proliferates and dedifferentiates. These alterations of specialized cell characteristics are probably due to regulatory nuclear receptors. In this paper, human RPE cells were examined for expression of the nuclear glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Ligands for this receptor may influence the proliferation of RPE cells.


METHODS
RPE cells were cultured from human donor eyes. The GR was demonstrated using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
It was demonstrated for the first time that the GR is expressed by human RPE cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Steroids play an important role in cell metabolism, especially in protein synthesis. This may be important for the proliferation of RPE cells and the release of enzymes that digest the basal lamina. Therapeutic interaction with the glucocorticoid-signal pathway may be useful for the inhibition of RPE cell proliferation.
Augenklinik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
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Schönfeld
D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000378:metabolism*; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000235:genetics*; D018630:Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative / Q000235:genetics
D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid