[The effect of gancao on glucocorticoid receptors in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of gancao and glucocorticoid on glucocorticoid receptors.


METHODS
The number of GCR of peripheral blood leukocytes was determined and FEV1% was assessed in 45 COPD patients and 10 control subjects.


RESULTS
GCR was significantly lower in COPD patients during acute attack than in control subjects while F and ACTH were significantly higher (P < 0.001). In gancao, glucocorticoid and combination of gancao and glucocorticoid treated groups FEV1% was higher after treatment, especially in the combination group(P < 0.001). Gancao induced up-regulation of GCR while glucocorticoid induced down-regulation of GCR, but combination of gancao and glucocorticoid had no effect on GCR.


CONCLUSIONS
Gancao might reverse the down-regulation of glucocorticoid on GCR, thus enhance and prolong the effects of glucocorticoids.
Liu
T
T
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Second Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000.
Wang
B
B
Wang
X
X
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D029001:Herbal Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000378:metabolism*; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone